Ethics in Business · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

What Makes a Business Good?

Life Skills · Entrepreneurship · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Telling the truth in advertising is part of being an ethical business.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. Which of these is a sign that a business is ethical?

    • It pays workers a fair wage
    • It pays workers as little as it legally can
    • It hides problems with its products from customers

  3. If a business only cares about making the biggest profit possible, what might happen?

    • It will always treat everyone fairly
    • It might treat workers or the environment badly to save money
    • It will always give its extra money to charity

  4. A clothing factory saves money by dumping chemicals into a river instead of treating them properly. What is the biggest problem with this?

    • It harms the environment and the people who use the water
    • It makes clothes cheaper for customers
    • It helps the factory hire more workers

  5. Look at the wages. Which company is paying a fairer wage?

    Company A5Company B15
    • Company A
    • They are the same
    • Company B

  6. A bakery owner can buy cheap flour from a supplier that pays its farmers very little, or flour that costs a bit more from a supplier that pays farmers fairly. What is the more ethical choice?

    • Buy the cheaper flour to keep more profit
    • Buy the fair-trade flour, even though it costs a bit more
    • Let customers decide instead of deciding herself

  7. A snack company calls its cookies 'healthy' even though they are mostly sugar, just to sell more. What is the risk of chasing profit this way?

    • Customers may feel tricked and stop trusting it
    • The company will never be allowed to sell cookies again
    • Nothing goes wrong since the cookies still taste good

  8. Jamal runs a toy company. He finds out one of his suppliers makes children work long hours instead of going to school. Jamal keeps buying from them because it is cheaper. What should Jamal actually do?

    • Keep buying from them since it saves money
    • Say nothing, since it is not his company doing it
    • Find a fair supplier, even if it costs more
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_b0sXYFblDL-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

What Makes a Business Good? W1-mt_b0sXYFblDL-s1

  1. True · Honest ads help customers trust what they are buying.
  2. It pays workers a fair wage · Fair pay is one of the clearest signs a business cares about its workers, not just its profit.
  3. It might treat workers or the environment badly to save money · Chasing profit above everything else can push a business to cut corners on wages or the environment.
  4. It harms the environment and the people who use the water · Saving money this way pushes the real cost onto the environment and nearby communities.
  5. Company B · Company B pays three times as much per hour, enough for workers to cover their basic needs.
  6. Buy the fair-trade flour, even though it costs a bit more · Paying a little more supports farmers who are treated and paid fairly.
  7. Customers may feel tricked and stop trusting it · Once customers feel misled, they often stop buying, which can hurt the business more than the extra sales helped.
  8. Find a fair supplier, even if it costs more · An ethical business owner takes responsibility for how its suppliers treat people, not just its own workers.
Worksheet · LightMySky