7/28/2019 Doc2 Talinn Cultural Diversity and Business Ethics

1/2

Cultural Diversity & Business Ethics

by Marilyn Lindblad, Demand Media

In recent years, many employers have embraced cultural diversity initiatives with an objectiveof creating create an all-inclusive workplace environment. Most analysts agree that a diverseworkforce is a worthy aspiration. However, cultural diversity can give rise to ethical issues thatcan be challenging for managers and employees to resolve.

Sponsored LinkSmall Business OpportunitySuppliers checked by D&B. Free info by HK Trade Development Council.www.hktdc.com

Religious Differences

A culturally diverse workforce may include individuals with different religious beliefs. Theremay be times when employees' religious beliefs clash with the organization's diversity policies.

For example, a diverse organization welcomes vendors, employees and customers of differentsexual orientation. This attitude of inclusion may pose an ethical dilemma for employees whohave a religion-based belief that heterosexuality is the only acceptable sexual orientation.Managers should be prepared to address these issues head on and clarify that, whatever anemployee's personal beliefs are, the employee must respect others in the workplace.

Gender Issues

An atmosphere of inclusion where women have the same opportunities for promotion as mencan generate several ethical challenges. In some countries, women are legally subordinate tomen. Male and female workers from these countries may find it difficult to adjust to a diverse,inclusive work environment where men report to women, and women occupy top executivepositions. Similarly, some cultures consider it immoral for women and men who are not relatedto each other to look each other in the eye and interact socially and professionally.

Management must address these cultural sensitivities without violating antidiscrimination lawsor otherwise reducing the effectiveness of diversity initiatives.

Hiring Decisions

An organization that wishes to have a culturally diverse workforce must hire from a diversepool of candidates. Managers may generate interest among diverse groups by posting openpositions with employee diversity networks or by advertising job openings in nontraditionalpublications. However, a hiring manager must hire the person most qualified for the position,regardless of race, gender, age or national origin. Hiring decisions made in an environmentthat values diversity may create tension between an organization's diversity goals and equalemployment opportunity guidelines.

Business Practices

A business may experience cultural conflict when it insists that its employees follow ethicalbusiness practices. In some cultures, government agents expect businesses to provideincentive payments to expedite approval of requests such as permit and variance applications.However, government officials may view these payments as bribes that are prohibited byfederal anticorruption laws. Violating the law can trigger criminal culpability and civil fines. Anorganization should provide antibribery training for its employees to clarify how to handle

http://www.google.com/url?ct=abg&q=https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/request.py%3Fcontact%3Dabg_afc%26url%3Dhttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/cultural-diversity-business-ethics-26116.html%26gl%3DRO%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dca-pub-3235755782694080%26ai0%3DCypYaIlVAUc-yK8Lk8APdkoD4BbOcgJEDu4qpyFrAjbcBEAEg3Y-QGFDc8eHc______8BYIOFgIDoG6ABxaCq_gPIAQGpAilEa0pmTYE-qAMBqgSOAU_QYQCohp6iESkxwRzPAPBDxbzIMZsjz7_MgAtF4ndasYogxpuF-Wca_Fp0uDo3nFujDvuvJJMAIeD2CQ0ZwLLMbm0vDr5QYA4vTQlO5HSzo5WclBBslopZKQTnupqgGM6-Vw15CYYizfHVyyz7XLDbDTENfmcQ7HKBV_XrP3Ny6oZCfxDS8HPzkceD4TuIBgGAB6Pf1QE&usg=AFQjCNGMt6Mb0GBF-R-7kfn4dS_nqWXWNwhttp://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=CypYaIlVAUc-yK8Lk8APdkoD4BbOcgJEDu4qpyFrAjbcBEAEg3Y-QGFDc8eHc______8BYIOFgIDoG6ABxaCq_gPIAQGpAilEa0pmTYE-qAMBqgSOAU_QYQCohp6iESkxwRzPAPBDxbzIMZsjz7_MgAtF4ndasYogxpuF-Wca_Fp0uDo3nFujDvuvJJMAIeD2CQ0ZwLLMbm0vDr5QYA4vTQlO5HSzo5WclBBslopZKQTnupqgGM6-Vw15CYYizfHVyyz7XLDbDTENfmcQ7HKBV_XrP3Ny6oZCfxDS8HPzkceD4TuIBgGAB6Pf1QE&num=1&cid=5GiAojPgYv5wKnHJenNd5rM6&sig=AOD64_3OQq1NjpbDqkMi2R_cTNybwOczlA&client=ca-pub-3235755782694080&adurl=http://web03.optimix.asia/agclk%3Fdistribution%3Dcontent%26mobile%3D%26keyword%3D%26matchtype%3D%26placement%3Dsmallbusiness.chron.com%26adgrp%3D%7Badgroup%7D%26creative%3D24239982027%26opxseid%3D1788%26opxagid%3D7285904067%26opxurl%3Dhttp://www.hktdc.com/suppliers/china-wholesale-suppliers%3FWT.srch%3D1%26DCSext.dept%3D12%26WT.mc_id%3D1716360http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=CypYaIlVAUc-yK8Lk8APdkoD4BbOcgJEDu4qpyFrAjbcBEAEg3Y-QGFDc8eHc______8BYIOFgIDoG6ABxaCq_gPIAQGpAilEa0pmTYE-qAMBqgSOAU_QYQCohp6iESkxwRzPAPBDxbzIMZsjz7_MgAtF4ndasYogxpuF-Wca_Fp0uDo3nFujDvuvJJMAIeD2CQ0ZwLLMbm0vDr5QYA4vTQlO5HSzo5WclBBslopZKQTnupqgGM6-Vw15CYYizfHVyyz7XLDbDTENfmcQ7HKBV_XrP3Ny6oZCfxDS8HPzkceD4TuIBgGAB6Pf1QE&num=1&cid=5GiAojPgYv5wKnHJenNd5rM6&sig=AOD64_3OQq1NjpbDqkMi2R_cTNybwOczlA&client=ca-pub-3235755782694080&adurl=http://web03.optimix.asia/agclk%3Fdistribution%3Dcontent%26mobile%3D%26keyword%3D%26matchtype%3D%26placement%3Dsmallbusiness.chron.com%26adgrp%3D%7Badgroup%7D%26creative%3D24239982027%26opxseid%3D1788%26opxagid%3D7285904067%26opxurl%3Dhttp://www.hktdc.com/suppliers/china-wholesale-suppliers%3FWT.srch%3D1%26DCSext.dept%3D12%26WT.mc_id%3D1716360http://www.google.com/url?ct=abg&q=https://www.google.com/adsense/support/bin/request.py%3Fcontact%3Dabg_afc%26url%3Dhttp://smallbusiness.chron.com/cultural-diversity-business-ethics-26116.html%26gl%3DRO%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dca-pub-3235755782694080%26ai0%3DCypYaIlVAUc-yK8Lk8APdkoD4BbOcgJEDu4qpyFrAjbcBEAEg3Y-QGFDc8eHc______8BYIOFgIDoG6ABxaCq_gPIAQGpAilEa0pmTYE-qAMBqgSOAU_QYQCohp6iESkxwRzPAPBDxbzIMZsjz7_MgAtF4ndasYogxpuF-Wca_Fp0uDo3nFujDvuvJJMAIeD2CQ0ZwLLMbm0vDr5QYA4vTQlO5HSzo5WclBBslopZKQTnupqgGM6-Vw15CYYizfHVyyz7XLDbDTENfmcQ7HKBV_XrP3Ny6oZCfxDS8HPzkceD4TuIBgGAB6Pf1QE&usg=AFQjCNGMt6Mb0GBF-R-7kfn4dS_nqWXWNwhttp://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=CypYaIlVAUc-yK8Lk8APdkoD4BbOcgJEDu4qpyFrAjbcBEAEg3Y-QGFDc8eHc______8BYIOFgIDoG6ABxaCq_gPIAQGpAilEa0pmTYE-qAMBqgSOAU_QYQCohp6iESkxwRzPAPBDxbzIMZsjz7_MgAtF4ndasYogxpuF-Wca_Fp0uDo3nFujDvuvJJMAIeD2CQ0ZwLLMbm0vDr5QYA4vTQlO5HSzo5WclBBslopZKQTnupqgGM6-Vw15CYYizfHVyyz7XLDbDTENfmcQ7HKBV_XrP3Ny6oZCfxDS8HPzkceD4TuIBgGAB6Pf1QE&num=1&cid=5GiAojPgYv5wKnHJenNd5rM6&sig=AOD64_3OQq1NjpbDqkMi2R_cTNybwOczlA&client=ca-pub-3235755782694080&adurl=http://web03.optimix.asia/agclk%3Fdistribution%3Dcontent%26mobile%3D%26keyword%3D%26matchtype%3D%26placement%3Dsmallbusiness.chron.com%26adgrp%3D%7Badgroup%7D%26creative%3D24239982027%26opxseid%3D1788%26opxagid%3D7285904067%26opxurl%3Dhttp://www.hktdc.com/suppliers/china-wholesale-suppliers%3FWT.srch%3D1%26DCSext.dept%3D12%26WT.mc_id%3D1716360http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=CypYaIlVAUc-yK8Lk8APdkoD4BbOcgJEDu4qpyFrAjbcBEAEg3Y-QGFDc8eHc______8BYIOFgIDoG6ABxaCq_gPIAQGpAilEa0pmTYE-qAMBqgSOAU_QYQCohp6iESkxwRzPAPBDxbzIMZsjz7_MgAtF4ndasYogxpuF-Wca_Fp0uDo3nFujDvuvJJMAIeD2CQ0ZwLLMbm0vDr5QYA4vTQlO5HSzo5WclBBslopZKQTnupqgGM6-Vw15CYYizfHVyyz7XLDbDTENfmcQ7HKBV_XrP3Ny6oZCfxDS8HPzkceD4TuIBgGAB6Pf1QE&num=1&cid=5GiAojPgYv5wKnHJenNd5rM6&sig=AOD64_3OQq1NjpbDqkMi2R_cTNybwOczlA&client=ca-pub-3235755782694080&adurl=http://web03.optimix.asia/agclk%3Fdistribution%3Dcontent%26mobile%3D%26keyword%3D%26matchtype%3D%26placement%3Dsmallbusiness.chron.com%26adgrp%3D%7Badgroup%7D%26creative%3D24239982027%26opxseid%3D1788%26opxagid%3D7285904067%26opxurl%3Dhttp://www.hktdc.com/suppliers/china-wholesale-suppliers%3FWT.srch%3D1%26DCSext.dept%3D12%26WT.mc_id%3D1716360

7/28/2019 Doc2 Talinn Cultural Diversity and Business Ethics

2/2

requests for contributions so that employees of all cultures understand what is acceptable andunacceptable behavior under the law.