Ethics in Business
Being honest, being fair, treating workers well, not harming the environment; what makes a 'good' business; whether businesses should care about more than profit
What a learner can do afterwards
- Name at least two things that make a business ethical (fair wages, honest advertising, environmentally responsible)
- Explain why a business that only cares about profit might cause problems
- Describe a situation where a business owner faces an ethical choice and suggest what they should do
The lesson
A business is more than a way to make money. You already know about fair trade and supply chains. Ethics in business is the bigger idea behind those: doing the right thing even when no one is checking. A good business pays workers fairly, tells the truth in its ads, and tries not to harm the earth.
Ravi owns a small shirt factory. He could pay workers like Low Pay Co. does, or pay them fairly like Fair Pay Co. Ravi chooses the fair wage. He keeps a little less profit, but his workers stay longer, work harder, and tell others his factory is a good place to work.
Businesses that lie to customers or harm the environment might earn a quick profit, but they lose people's trust. Trust keeps customers and workers coming back, and that is worth more than one big sale.
A good business treats workers, customers, and the earth fairly, even when it costs a little more.
Watch it
Where it sits
This opens up
Nothing builds on it yet.
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.