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Archive for September, 2009
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Wednesday, September 30th, 2009The good thing about specializing in business ethics is that there’s always something to write about. The not so good thing is that, much of the time, the things there are to write about are … not so good. That’s why I’m always delighted when a company gives me reason to cheer.
So, three [...]
For Nestle, business in Zimbabwe is fraught with ethical peril
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009If you want to see a company in a real ethical Catch-22, look no further than Nestle. The company does business around the world and operates, among its many facilities, a milk powder and cereal factory in Harare that reportedly employs about 200 people. To operate the factory, Nestle needs to buy milk [...]
Don’t treat your contractors like employees
Friday, September 25th, 2009Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, let’s return to the classification of employees. Last week, I warned about the dangers of misclassifying employees who should be entitled to overtime pay. Today, we’ll address companies who blur the line between their employees and their independent contractors, putting themselves at [...]
Note to the D.C. Council: that’s no way to pass a code of ethics!
Friday, September 25th, 2009D.C. Council member, former mayor and chronic bad boy Marion Barry has been in the news again. Seems Hizzonner may have played things a tad fast and loose, allegedly awarding a government contract to his then-girlfriend instead of ensuring that the best contractor won. The story hasn’t played out yet but, for those [...]
How ethical is anonymous online bashing?
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009Folks who caught my appearance on The Today Show last week may have picked up a point that passed quickly in a lively conversation. During our discussion, Kathie Lee Gifford observed that the Internet has created new venues for rudeness where people can make poisonous comments in chat rooms, on message boards and commenting [...]
Don’t play games with overtime pay
Friday, September 18th, 2009Continuing my Friday series on how to keep your business out of court, let’s talk about one of the fastest-growing topics for litigation in the U.S. Employers across the country are being sued with increasing frequency for failing to comply with federal laws requiring them to pay non-exempt employees overtime. Those lawsuits can [...]
Kanye West, Serena Williams, Joe Wilson and the Today Show
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009It’s certainly been a week for high-profile apologies. Tennis superstar Serena Williams eventually apologized for the tantrum she threw at a recent match. With a little help from Jay Leno, tough guy rapper Kanye West apologized to country teen star Taylor Swift for blowing her moment at the MTV Video Music Awards. [...]
To learn more about apologies, join me on The Today Show!
Monday, September 14th, 2009It’s a thrill to be able to report that The Today Show has invited me to appear this coming Tuesday, September 15th during the 10 AM Eastern hour to talk about apologies. We’ll be discussing “person on the street” interviews conducted in New York today about why people find it so difficult to [...]
Stay on good terms with potential plaintiffs
Friday, September 11th, 2009Continuing my Friday series on ways to keep your business out of court, consider this: if your company is going to be sued, the odds are good that you already know the plaintiff. Why? Because most lawsuits are filed not out of the blue by total strangers, but by people with whom you [...]
Why Joe Wilson’s apology falls short
Thursday, September 10th, 2009South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson is making headlines around the world for his boorish behavior during President Obama’s health care address to Congress last night. When the president denied that his proposal to reform health care would provide free coverage for illegal immigrants, Wilson shouted “You lie!” then sat back and started fiddling with [...]
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