Ethics Versus Compliance

Ethics Versus Compliance Essay
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The paper "Ethics vs. Compliance: Do We Really Need to Talk About Both?" discusses the nuances which distinguish ethics and compliance while stressing the significance of communication, training, and general organizational culture. Watson (2014) asserts that while compliance implies adherence to the law, ethics involves executing what a person deems morally correct regardless of legal frameworks. Compliance is fundamental for organizations to avoid penalties, government actions, and liability by meeting legal obligations. It ensures that organizations adhere to technical regulations like product labeling without primarily meeting moral commitments. In contrast, ethics encompass forming conscious choices while considering principles and values even when the law does not dictate so. For example, an organization ensuring its environmentally friendly products shows its ethical commitment. The distinction between the two is more intriguing when compliance concerns interact with moral elements. For instance, in corruption, such compliance provisions as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act interdicts unethical practices (Watson, 2014). However, enhancing the message to do what is right may fail to encourage employees in all situations. Watson (2014) argues that cultural differences, where there are rationaliza...