“With every action there is a reaction.” We can agree that all organizational cultures are different, but the ethics and integrity of any company should always be upheld to the highest professional standard. But, what is considered to be the professional standard? The policy of a company may lay the foundation for how a business should be run, but the words in the policy are dependent on the organizational leaders to enforce it and for the employees to follow and respect it. The concern with professional ethics and integrity is split on the rules of engagement. Differences in culture, religion, upbringing and society create a mix view of what is considered to be professional conduct. Ideology and theory of management and leadership in this millennium will have to further its research and consider more variables in the study of organizational behavior. It is said that America is a ‘milting-pot-society’. If this statement is true, then how come we still deny the opportunity of others to grow and prosper off this capitalist empire? How come organizations want acceptance of their rules, beliefs and regulations, but refuse to comprehend the same ideas for others. Religion may not be apart of our schools or government, but no one ever provoked the idea of its place in business.
Corporate America still practices favoritism towards Christianity and Catholicism. Many companies are closed on Sunday or closed at an earlier time because it is a day of sabot. The bible mentioned that God rested on the seventh day after creating the earth. The majority of Christians and Catholics participate in church services and prayers in congregation on Sundays. Many businesses, including all government businesses, city schools, and universities are closed for the celebration of Christian holidays, like Christmas and Easter. These practices foreshadow on the religious beliefs of others. This argument is not stated for the sake of pointing fingers against people’s faith, but opening an opportunity for awareness and enlightenment. If we are in favor of embracing diversity, then why pick and choose and not embrace all equally. Many of my coworkers are in favor of working on holidays that they do not celebrate. They just require that they are allowed to celebrate their beliefs without loosing personal time, sick time or have judgment passed on them by management.
As a minority that was raised by a single parent from a third-world-country, the idea of professionalism related to people that were employed. No one in my family or community resembled the business suit, proper English speaking, college graduate professional. My mother and great uncle spoke maybe two words of English, but were able to hold down two fulltime jobs. They always arrived to work on time and rarely was absent from work. The business that employed my mother took full advantage of her ignorance of New York State labor laws and her inability to communicate and express her needs in English. I remember her working sometimes fourteen hour shifts without any compensation for her overtime work. Many of theses companies paid her with cash to avoid giving her benefits and overtime pay. Regardless of the working conditions many immigrants will ignore the dangers of these sweatshops in order to provide a better life for their families. Many immigrants including my mother are dedicated workers. Opportunism is scariest in many third-word-countries. My mother will tell you that minimum wage is acceptable when compared to her 40 dollars a month salary in Cambodia. She will also tell you that she would work more if she was offered. The abuse and harsh conditions of sweatshops in the US cannot be compared to the diamond minds in Africa and South America. But, we should never make light of unfair working conditions. It is still an unethical treatment to humanity.
