Ethics and social responsibility of business exam plan. Areas of social programs

Management writing often uses the terms Social responsibility enterprises" and "business ethics".

Social responsibility implies a certain level of voluntary response to social problems from the side.

There are two different points of view on how organizations should behave in relation to their public environment to be considered socially responsible.

  1. The organization maximizes profits without violating the laws and regulations of state regulation.
  2. The organization, in addition to responsibility of an economic nature, is obliged to take into account the human and social aspects of the impact of its business activity on employees, consumers, and also make a certain positive contribution to solving social problems in general.

The public expects from modern organizations not only high economic results, but also significant achievements in terms of social goals of society.

Social actions of enterprises that improve the lives of the local population, eliminate the need for government regulation and can be used to the advantage of enterprises. In a society that is prosperous from a social point of view, the conditions for business activities are improving. , having an attractive image with consumers, can increase profits by increasing sales. On the other hand, social spending is passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Ethics deals with the principles that determine right and wrong behavior. For example, the actions of managers who violate the law should be considered unethical. Actions should also be considered unethical when a businessman is in a quasi-legal space and gets the opportunity to break the law, formally being protected by other laws.

Ethical standards describe a system of common values ​​and rules of ethics that, in the opinion of the organization, employees should adhere to.

Ethical standards are developed with the aim of describing the goals of the organization, creating a normal ethical atmosphere and identifying ethical recommendations in decision-making processes. Some organizations set up dedicated ethics committees to assess daily practice from an ethical standpoint. Almost all members of such committees are top-level executives.

Leadership Ethics- a system of norms of moral behavior of a manager based on understanding and taking into account the psychology of employees, educating a personality, managing culture and the ability to manage one's feelings, emotions in the process of personal relationships with subordinates, superiors and colleagues.

Modern trends in business development have long confirmed the need for a social orientation. Entrepreneurs strive not only to make a profit, but also to provide all possible assistance to society in solving social problems. But there is an important component in this direction, which not everyone takes into account. Any socially oriented event should bring benefits, tangible or intangible, but necessarily beneficial in the future. There are several strategies that allow to achieve this effect, entrepreneurs should know and apply them in practice.

What is the social responsibility of business

The social orientation of doing business involves the implementation of certain measures aimed at the benefit of society, carried out at the expense of the organization. With their help, socially significant programs are implemented to improve the lives of certain segments of the population or for employees of their company. The results of such companies contribute to the growth, improvement of the image, development, increase in the profit of the contractor, that is, the enterprise.

Plan social measures has its distinctive features. It is constantly reviewed and modified in accordance with current trends development of society. Such a plan is adopted by the individual enterprise independently and voluntarily. It may also be coordinated with other project stakeholders. As a result of socially oriented activities, the following goals are achieved:

  • improving the reputation of the company at the level designated target audience and the entire locality;
  • improving the company's image;
  • increase in the volume of manufactured and sold products;
  • improving the quality of services or goods of the enterprise;
  • development and strengthening of the corporate brand;
  • the emergence and strengthening of new partnerships, ties with representatives of business, government, civil associations and organizations.

It should be understood that the social responsibility of business is not the same as charity. Also, social responsibility cannot be associated with the following concepts:

  • PR and self-promotion;
  • political activity and promotion of the individual;
  • government projects and programs;
  • economically oriented state programs.

How social responsibility is assessed

This concept has a clear evaluation structure, it is carried out at several levels.

The first level means compliance with the laws of the Russian Federation, according to which the business performs certain social functions. For example, the registration of employees according to the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and the full payment of taxes means the removal of tension in society, guarantees of stability. Also, work at this level means compliance with the laws of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, and maintaining economic activity in the legal field.

The second level of social responsibility of business involves conducting activities that make the work of the enterprise attractive for investors and consumers. This is the creation of such a product or service that contributes to the growth of the well-being of citizens, strengthening their health, etc. And the attractiveness of a business for investors means an increase in the image of the whole country.

And the third level of responsibility involves the planning and implementation of such activities that are aimed at relieving social tension, strengthening the image of the enterprise, but at the same time - the lack of profit in monetary terms.

The entrepreneur himself decides at what level he works, but it should be noted that the implementation of the highest level is impossible if the previous one is missing. For example, participation in serious events at the regional level is impossible if your employees receive “black” wages and work illegally, without paying full taxes.

Corporate responsibility models

Corporate responsibility can be implemented in four forms. All of them are aimed at the well-being of the company, therefore they are worthy of attention.

Manipulative model- involves the processing of public opinion to achieve the goals of the company.

information model- Achievement of the company's goals by constantly informing about the company's intentions in a variety of ways.

Mutual Understanding Model- explanation of the line of behavior of the enterprise and understanding of the line of behavior of employees.

Model social partnership – study and analysis of the whole social environment and public sentiment.

Each country has its own preferences for corporate partnerships and responsibilities. In Russia, these concepts are still at the stage of formation. Analysts say that positive results and achievements are already visible. It traces the features of the European model (when the state actively participates in shaping the company's strategy) and the British one (with participation in the policy of the enterprise of the voluntary initiative of employees).

Forms of social responsibility

Social responsibility can be hidden and open.

open strategy involves the behavior of the organization when the enterprise takes responsibility for solving issues of concern to society. This form of social responsibility is chosen independently, behavior and all measures are formed voluntarily.

Hidden the form affects all institutions of the state - official and unofficial. All activities and plans are coordinated with these institutions. The norms, rules of conduct, values ​​and even the mission of the company are formed in full accordance with the interests and objectives of the state, achieving its personal results, such a company works primarily for the goals and objectives of the whole society and the institution of the state. Moreover, the goals are not only social, but also political and economic.

Basic principles of social responsibility marketing strategies

In order for the principles of social responsibility to be unconditionally visible and accepted by society and business partners, certain rules should be followed. The first is to always keep all your promises, to do what you say. This attitude without extra words demonstrates respect for consumers, partners, demonstrates impeccable ethics in business circles.

The second principle is honesty in advertising. Never promise in videos and texts what you cannot implement in your products or services. Honesty and lack of exaggeration in this regard, consumers will definitely appreciate and begin to respect your company.

The third principle is to demonstrate ethical standards in your products or services. For example, the inscription on the product is very important that it is produced without causing harm. environment. It is also important to honestly indicate the composition, and it is very good if it does not contain harmful substances both for the human body and for nature. Or, for example, many indicate the term for the disposal and decomposition of packaging, methods for its harmless decomposition into components that are safe for nature.

Efficiency of socially responsible business

The chain of business growth that is socially responsible is quite simple. It is not difficult to trace the effect of events that have a social orientation. Positive effects can be seen after some time, an instant effect should not be expected. The first stage in the implementation of such a strategy is the full monitoring of the situation in society, the preparation of the so-called social profile. Based on the identification of problems and critical points, an action plan is formed. In the course of its implementation, business tasks are expanding, production is developing. Which ultimately leads to an increase in consumer respect for the enterprise, an increase in sales, and an increase in profits.

Confirmation of the growth of loyalty to socially responsible enterprises according to studies of various organizations:

  • citizens prefer to buy products of companies that have proven their social responsibility, in the US this figure is 83%;
  • young professionals prefer to work in companies with a high degree of social responsibility, especially those that are attentive to environmental issues;
  • three-quarters of working citizens are convinced that if an enterprise deals with issues of social responsibility, then it is certainly interested in their personal development;
  • The Institute of Business Ethics provided figures that show that companies with a high degree of social responsibility have success rates - 18% higher than those of ordinary companies.

What is the social responsibility of business

Internal responsibility:

  • creation of conditions for labor safety;
  • stable payments wages, the level of which is considered acceptable and above the average in the industry;
  • medical care for employees and additional measures to maintain their health;
  • training and professional development of employees;
  • providing material assistance to employees who find themselves in difficult living conditions.

External social responsibility:

  • providing sponsorship in promotions and programs;
  • participation in measures for the revival of natural resources and environmental protection;
  • close contact and cooperation with the local community and authorities;
  • participation in crisis situations of the city;
  • responsibility to consumers in terms of the quality of a product or service.

Social responsibility quite often takes the form of volunteering. It is expressed in the form of visits to specialized institutions and assistance to them, these are orphanages, nursing homes, hospices, animal shelters.

Interesting forms of responsibility to society are the appointment and payment of special scholarships and bonuses to talented citizens, pensions to deserving people, participation in the formation of funds to support certain areas of society's life (sick children, talented performers, etc.).

Remuneration of socially oriented enterprises by the state is also an expected, but not a mandatory factor in this activity. Sometimes such enterprises are exempted from certain types of local taxes, sometimes they are given priority in competitions and tenders. But such measures are not guaranteed to anyone, they are not an end in themselves for businessmen.

Elena Shchugoreva is a business consultant, trainer in oratory and speech technique, head of the Orator Master online school. She can be contacted at e-mail [email protected] or through a Facebook group

Introduction

my theme control work: "Social responsibility and business ethics: formation, development, practical application".

Business ethics as an applied field of knowledge was formed in the United States and Western Europe in the 1970s of the XX century. but moral aspects businesses attracted researchers as early as the 1960s. scientific community and business world came to the conclusion about the need to increase the "ethical awareness" of professional businessmen in their business operations, as well as the "responsibility of corporations to society." Particular attention was paid to the increasing cases of corruption, both among the government bureaucracy and among the responsible persons of various corporations. A certain role in the development of business ethics as a scientific discipline was played by the famous "Watergate", which involved the most prominent representatives of President R. Nixon's administration. By the early 1980s, most business schools in the United States, as well as some universities, included business ethics in their learning programs. Currently, the business ethics course is included in educational plans some universities in Russia.

There are two main points of view on the correlation of universal ethical principles and business ethics: 1) the rules of ordinary morality do not apply to business or apply to a lesser extent .; 2) business ethics is based on universal universal ethical standards (be honest, do no harm, keep one's word, etc.), which are specified taking into account the specific social role of business in society. Theoretically, the second point of view is considered more correct.

Questions of the relationship between ethics and economics in Lately are starting to be actively discussed in our country.

The purpose of the control work is to consider issues of social responsibility and business ethics.

Tasks: 1) social responsibility formation, development,

practical use.

2) business ethics formation, development, practical

application.

Question number 1. Social responsibility and business ethics: formation, development, practical use

The role of business in society

Social policy is one of the most important areas of state regulation of the economy. She is an organic part domestic policy state, aimed at ensuring the well-being and comprehensive development of its citizens and society as a whole. The significance of social policy is determined by its influence on the processes of reproduction work force, increasing labor productivity, educational and qualification level labor resources, on the level of scientific and technological development of the productive forces, on the cultural and spiritual life of society. Social policy aimed at improving working and living conditions, the development of physical culture and sports, reduces the incidence of diseases and thus has a tangible impact on reducing economic losses in production. As a result of the development of such systems in the social sphere as catering, preschool education, frees part of the population from the sphere of the household, increases employment in social production. Science and scientific support that determines the future economic development countries are also part of the social sphere and their development and efficiency are regulated within the framework of social policy. Social sphere not only regulates the processes of employment of the population, but is also directly a place of application of labor and provides jobs for millions of people in the country.

The main objectives of social policy are:

1. Harmonization of social relations, harmonization of the interests and needs of certain groups of the population with the long-term interests of society, stabilization of the socio-political system.

2. Creation of conditions for ensuring the material well-being of citizens, the formation of economic incentives for participation in social production, ensuring equality social opportunities to achieve a normal standard of living.

3. Providing social protection for all citizens and their basic state-guaranteed socio-economic rights, including support for low-income and vulnerable groups of the population.

4. Ensuring rational employment in society.

5. reducing the level of criminalization in society.

6. Development of sectors of the social complex, such as education, healthcare, science, culture, housing and communal services, etc.

7. Ensuring the country's environmental safety.

The social responsibility of business is the conduct of business in accordance with the norms and laws adopted in the country where it is located. It's job creation. This is charity and the creation of various funds to help various social strata of society. This is ensuring the protection of the environment of their production, and much more supporting the social status in the country.

Business assumes the functions of the state and this is called social responsibility. This is primarily due to the lack of an appropriate state policy in the field of corporate social responsibility. The state itself cannot determine the model of relations with business.

There are two points of view on how organizations should behave in relation to their social environment in order to be considered socially responsible. According to one of them, an organization is socially responsible when it maximizes profits without violating laws and government regulations. From these positions, the organization should pursue only economic goals. According to another view, an organization, in addition to economic responsibility, must consider the human and social impact of its business activities on employees, consumers and local communities in which it operates, as well as make some positive contribution to solving social problems in general.

The concept of social responsibility is that the organization performs the economic function of producing products and services necessary for a society with a free market economy, while providing work for citizens and maximum profits and shareholder rewards. According to this view, organizations have a responsibility to the society in which they operate, beyond and beyond providing efficiency, employment, profits, and not breaking the law. Organizations should therefore direct some of their resources and efforts through social channels. Social responsibility, unlike legal, implies a certain level of voluntary response to social problems on the part of the organization.

The debate about the role of business in society has given rise to arguments for and against social responsibility.

Arguments for social responsibility

Business-friendly long-term prospects. The social activities of enterprises that improve the life of the local community or eliminate the need for government regulation may be in the self-interest of enterprises due to the benefits provided by participation in society. In a society that is more prosperous from a social point of view, conditions are more favorable for business activities. In addition, even if the short-term costs of social action are high, they can drive profits in the long run, as consumers, suppliers, and the local community develop a more attractive image of the enterprise.

Changing needs and expectations of the general public. Business-related social expectations have changed radically since the 1960s. In order to narrow the gap between new expectations and the real response of enterprises, their involvement in solving social problems becomes both expected and necessary.

Availability of resources to assist in solving social problems. Since the business has significant human and financial resources, he should have transferred some of them to social needs.

A moral obligation to behave socially responsibly. An enterprise is a member of society, so moral standards should also govern its behavior. The enterprise, like individual members of society, must act in a socially responsible manner and contribute to strengthening the moral foundations of society. Moreover, since laws cannot cover every occasion, businesses must act responsibly in order to maintain a society based on order and the rule of law.

Arguments against social responsibility

Violation of the profit maximization principle. The direction of part of the resources for social needs reduces the impact of the principle of profit maximization. The enterprise behaves in the most socially responsible way, focusing only on economic interests and leaving social problems government agencies and services, charitable institutions and educational organizations.

Social Inclusion Expenses. Funds allocated for social needs are costs for the enterprise. Ultimately, these costs are passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. In addition, firms that compete in international markets with firms in other countries that do not incur social costs are at a competitive disadvantage. As a result, their sale on international markets is reduced, which leads to a deterioration in the US balance of payments in foreign trade.

Insufficient level of reporting to the general public. Because managers are not elected, they are not accountable to the general public. The market system controls the economic performance of enterprises well and poorly controls their social involvement. As long as society does not develop a procedure for direct accountability of enterprises to it, the latter will not participate in social actions for which they do not consider themselves responsible.

Lack of ability to solve social problems. The personnel of any enterprise is best prepared for activities in the fields of economy, market and technology. He is deprived of the experience that allows him to make significant contributions to solving problems of a social nature. The improvement of society should be facilitated by specialists working in the relevant state institutions and charitable organizations.

Social responsibility in practice

According to studies on the attitude of executives to corporate social responsibility, there is a clear shift towards its increase. The executives interviewed believe that the pressure to increase corporate social responsibility is real, significant and will continue. Other studies have shown that senior management of firms began to participate in the work of local communities as volunteers.

The biggest stumbling block to developing social responsibility programs is cited by executives as the demands of front-line workers and managers to increase earnings per share on a quarterly basis. The desire to quickly increase profits and incomes makes managers refuse to transfer part of their resources to programs that are driven by social responsibility. Organizations are taking numerous steps in the area of ​​voluntary participation in society.

Introduction

The theme of my test: "Social responsibility and business ethics: formation, development, practical application."

Business ethics as an applied field of knowledge was formed in the United States and Western Europe in the 1970s of the XX century. However, the moral aspects of business attracted researchers already in the 60s. The scientific community and the business world have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to increase the "ethical awareness" of professional businessmen in their business operations, as well as the "responsibility of corporations to society." Special attention addressed the increasing cases of corruption, both among the government bureaucracy and among the responsible persons of various corporations. A certain role in the development of business ethics as a scientific discipline was played by the famous "Watergate", which involved the most prominent representatives of President R. Nixon's administration. By the early 1980s, most business schools in the US, as well as some universities, included business ethics in their curricula. Currently, the course of business ethics is also included in the curricula of some Russian universities.

There are two main points of view on the correlation of universal ethical principles and business ethics: 1) the rules of ordinary morality do not apply to business or apply to a lesser extent .; 2) business ethics is based on universal universal ethical standards (be honest, do no harm, keep one's word, etc.), which are specified taking into account the specific social role of business in society. Theoretically, the second point of view is considered more correct.

The issues of the relationship between ethics and economics have recently begun to be actively discussed in our country.

The purpose of the control work is to consider issues of social responsibility and business ethics.

Tasks: 1) social responsibility formation, development,

practical use.

2) business ethics formation, development, practical

application.

Question number 1. Social responsibility and business ethics: formation, development, practical application

Social policy is one of the most important areas of state regulation of the economy. It is an organic part of the internal policy of the state, aimed at ensuring the well-being and comprehensive development of its citizens and society as a whole. The significance of social policy is determined by its influence on the processes of reproduction of the labor force, increasing labor productivity, educational and qualification level labor resources, the level of scientific and technological development of the productive forces, the cultural and spiritual life of society. Social policy aimed at improving working and living conditions, the development of physical culture and sports, reduces the incidence of diseases and thus has a tangible impact on reducing economic losses in production. As a result of the development of such systems in the social sphere as public catering, preschool education, frees part of the population from the household sphere, increases employment in social production. Science and scientific support, which determine the prospects for the country's economic development, are also part of the social sphere and their development and efficiency are regulated within the framework of social policy. The social sphere not only regulates the processes of employment of the population, but is also directly a place of application of labor and provides jobs for millions of people in the country.

The main objectives of social policy are:

1. Harmonization of social relations, harmonization of the interests and needs of certain groups of the population with the long-term interests of society, stabilization of the socio-political system.

2. Creation of conditions for ensuring the material well-being of citizens, the formation of economic incentives for participation in social production, ensuring equality of social opportunities to achieve a normal standard of living.

3. Providing social protection for all citizens and their basic state-guaranteed socio-economic rights, including support for low-income and vulnerable groups of the population.

4. Ensuring rational employment in society.

5. reducing the level of criminalization in society.

6. Development of sectors of the social complex, such as education, healthcare, science, culture, housing and communal services, etc.

7. Ensuring the country's environmental safety.

The social responsibility of business is the conduct of business in accordance with the norms and laws adopted in the country where it is located. It's job creation. This is charity and the creation of various funds to help various social strata of society. This is ensuring the protection of the environment of their production, and much more supporting the social status in the country.

Business assumes the functions of the state and this is called social responsibility. This is primarily due to the lack of appropriate public policy in the field of corporate social responsibility. The state itself cannot determine the model of relations with business.

There are two points of view on how organizations should behave in relation to their social environment in order to be considered socially responsible. According to one of them, an organization is socially responsible when it maximizes profits without violating laws and government regulations. From these positions, the organization should pursue only economic goals. According to another view, an organization, in addition to economic responsibility, must consider the human and social impact of its business activities on employees, consumers and local communities in which it operates, as well as make some positive contribution to solving social problems in general.

The concept of social responsibility is that the organization performs the economic function of producing products and services necessary for a society with a free market economy, while providing work for citizens and maximizing profits and rewards for shareholders. According to this view, organizations have a responsibility to the society in which they operate, beyond and beyond providing efficiency, employment, profits, and not breaking the law. Organizations should therefore direct some of their resources and efforts through social channels. Social responsibility, unlike legal, implies a certain level of voluntary response to social problems on the part of the organization.

The debate about the role of business in society has given rise to arguments for and against social responsibility.

Business-friendly long-term prospects. The social activities of enterprises that improve the life of the local community or eliminate the need for government regulation may be in the self-interest of enterprises due to the benefits provided by participation in society. In a society that is more prosperous from a social point of view, conditions are more favorable for business activities. In addition, even if the short-term costs of social action are high, they can drive profits in the long run, as consumers, suppliers, and the local community develop a more attractive image of the enterprise.

Changing needs and expectations of the general public. Business-related social expectations have changed radically since the 1960s. In order to narrow the gap between new expectations and the real response of enterprises, their involvement in solving social problems becomes both expected and necessary.

Availability of resources to assist in solving social problems. Since business has significant human and financial resources, it should transfer some of them to social needs.

A moral obligation to behave socially responsibly. An enterprise is a member of society, so moral standards should also govern its behavior. The enterprise, like individual members of society, must act in a socially responsible manner and contribute to strengthening the moral foundations of society. Moreover, since laws cannot cover every occasion, businesses must act responsibly in order to maintain a society based on order and the rule of law.

Violation of the profit maximization principle. The direction of part of the resources for social needs reduces the impact of the principle of profit maximization. The enterprise behaves in the most socially responsible way, focusing only on economic interests and leaving social problems to state institutions and services, charitable institutions and educational organizations.

Social Inclusion Expenses. Funds allocated for social needs are costs for the enterprise. Ultimately, these costs are passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. In addition, firms that compete in international markets with firms in other countries that do not incur social costs are at a competitive disadvantage. As a result, their sale on international markets is reduced, which leads to a deterioration in the US balance of payments in foreign trade.

Insufficient level of reporting to the general public. Because managers are not elected, they are not accountable to the general public. The market system controls the economic performance of enterprises well and poorly controls their social involvement. As long as society does not develop a procedure for direct accountability of enterprises to it, the latter will not participate in social actions for which they do not consider themselves responsible.

The basis of modern business ethics is the social contract and social responsibility of the businessman, as well as the entire corporation to society. At the same time, the social contract is an informal agreement between the firm and its external environment on uniform moral and ethical standards of behavior. A mandatory component of business ethics is social responsibility, which is understood as the maximum use of its advantages and minimization of negative business processes affecting both market participants and society as a whole(non-causing harm and damage to society, the state, the economy, the environment and other spheres of human life).

For many people, the concept of "business" and "ethics" is not easy to reconcile. As one American journalist put it, "Business and ethics are a clear contradiction as absurd as a giant shrimp." Most executives believe that companies should not follow business ethics at all, why worry about social responsibility, morality and the environment. If society wants companies to bring all this to the forefront, then company managers must reconsider the entire system of management and regulation. Thirty years ago, Milton Friedman, the eminent American economist, said, "There is one and only one social responsibility for business—to use its resources and engage in activities that increase profits."

It is quite difficult for companies to connect ethical principles and the objective need to reproduce profits. There is always a dilemma when money and morality collide and come into conflict as to what decision a company should make.

In the history of the modernization of human societies, the emergence of more complex market systems has often been accompanied by sharp criticism from the standpoint of ethical and social perspectives. In a world that is becoming increasingly impersonal and characterized by far-reaching indirect social interaction, social relations are increasingly built on a formal, contractual and monetary basis.

Historical development industrial societies for a long time proceeded within relatively well-established normative systems. In modern society, normative and ideological pluralism is manifested, which sometimes appears in the form of permissiveness and irresponsibility.

The first attempts to introduce ethical principles were made in the mid-80s in the United States. In 1985, General Dynamics created a corporate ethics complex because it was subjected to scrutiny for price manipulation. Under pressure from the Department of Defense, an initiative group was organized, including about 60 companies, which initiated the creation of a program of ethical agreements. In 1991, US judges were empowered to reduce fines for companies that encourage ethical behavior. There is now a wide-ranging ethical industry in America. It includes holding consultations and conferences, publishing magazines and establishing the Corporate Conscience Award. Auditing firms offer to conduct an "audit" of the ethical aspect of the company's work. In business ethics, many philosophical and cultural attitudes turned out to be in demand, which, exploring morality and morality at the level of human knowledge, explain the nature of the virtues that underlie ethics. Sometimes modern philosophers act as experts and advise on issues of morality and ethics, however, many issues become most acute from the position of social responsibility.


Issues such as trust and human relations become intractable when an enterprise invades the privacy of its employees. An example is the dismissal of employees, payroll, these are conflict issues in any enterprise, often considered unethically.

The communications technology revolution has in turn created many dilemmas. As soon as any new technology, business immediately faces the question of the ethical aspect of its use. So, for example, companies are faced with the problems of protecting the information and privacy of their customers. Nowadays, businesses know almost everything about the tastes of their customers, but this raises the question of the ethical or unethical knowledge of this kind.

The process of globalization has given the discussion of corporate ethics an even sharper form. When a company operates abroad, it faces completely new ethical and moral issues. Differences in ethical standards are the biggest problem. different countries. Many companies first encountered the moral dilemma of globalization when they were forced to decide whether to meet local standards if they were significantly lower than in their home countries. This debate came to public attention in connection with the Bhopal disaster in 1984, when an explosion at the Union Carbide plant in India killed 8,000 people. As a result of numerous discussions, global standards on safety, health and the environment were adopted, which subsequently became international in the field of health protection and ethical behavior of personnel.

Another acute problem of business ethics as a social responsibility is corruption and bribery. This phenomenon is condemned not only because it promotes unfair competition, but also because the company, giving bribes, acts only in its own interests and does not take into account the opinion of society. However, often the bribe is hidden. Organizations have to abide by the rules of the country in which they operate, and it is sometimes necessary to provide "support" to the local population, etc. The terms of many tenders require certain social guarantees and obligations that the company must assume in exchange for the right to develop deposits or carry out some kind of project.

Why has bribery become the number one business ethics issue? First, due to the growth in the volume of "" international trade and the need for companies to operate globally. Over the past twenty years, world trade has increased 10 times, and investment 20 times. Large companies are forced to adapt to various customs regimes, laws and traditions. Small and medium enterprises are also fighting for their place in the market. Finally, fierce competition and a high degree of business regulation lead to the fact that starting a new business "according to the law" is too expensive, it is better to go around. According to the World Bank in developed countries bribes reach 20-30 % the amount of contracts. In developing countries, especially in Latin America and Southeast Asia, they account for 5-30% of all public finances. Secondly, legislation adopted to combat bribery is rarely enforced due to its ineffectiveness. So, in 1977, the United States adopted the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA - Foreign Corrupt Practices Act). This law punishes American companies if they give bribes abroad directly or through intermediaries. Previously, companies were only required to report giving a bribe and were not subject to criminal penalties. However, the law did not work due to the vagueness of its wording and the complexity of formal procedures: it is difficult to prove both the fact of giving a bribe abroad and its amount. But, unfortunately, those companies that voluntarily follow the letter of the law suffer losses In 1993, a study of 336 US exporting companies showed that two-thirds of the firms on this list lost a number of positions in foreign markets due to the fact that competitors from other countries paid bribes.

Corruption and bribery flourish in Russian business both internationally and nationally. According to unofficial data published in the media of the Russian Federation, the lion's share transactions with foreign countries is carried out through the "pocket" of officials of various ministries and departments.

The problem of the relationship between business ethics and government is directly related to corruption and bribery. In the domestic market, companies defend their interests in accordance with ethical standards which, however, are not always correct from the point of view of public morality. It's about on lobbying and political sponsorship by chambers of commerce and various business associations. The essence of the work of such organizations is legal lobbying. The association formulates the interests of its members and, on the grounds that they are important taxpayers and employers, insists that the government fulfill their wishes. As a rule, companies outside such associations cannot influence legislation. Political sponsorship is related to the financing of parties in elections. In most Western countries, either anonymous donations or large one-time contributions from companies to party funds are allowed. In our country, election campaigns in a number of cases testify to bribery, money laundering and other unseemly acts of high-ranking officials.

There are many problems at the legislative level. Especially it concerns modern stage development of the economy and legislation. The beginning of a large-scale redistribution of property in Russia is associated with the privatization of the 1990s, there is no need to describe the facts of the unethical nature of many leaders who seize large profitable production, however, the process did not stop there. A decade later, the redistribution of property continues; falling apart large companies as a result of the consolidation of certain interest groups, which is contrary to business ethics and the law - the interests of small shareholders are violated, deliberately lead to the bankruptcy of an enterprise of state importance with the sole purpose of redistributing property.

Important aspect the study and application of business ethics is an assessment of the behavior of companies from the point of view of the interests of society. Here, the researchers proceed from the social responsibility that companies bear to society (in the narrow sense: how useful they are to society when they work in their own interests). They are employers, which means they form employment. In addition, they influence the consumer market, they are customers of the training system qualified personnel. Budgets large firms are comparable to the budgets of small states, therefore the social aspect of business ethics is associated with the responsibility for the actions of managers in solving the social policy of not only enterprises, but also entire regions. It is about the impact of the labor market. Layoffs in large companies can "throw" thousands of unemployed people into the market. Taking advantage of this, large companies, for example, Rudgormash OJSC (Voronezh), in difficult periods, ask state support in the form of government orders or financial assistance Such "blackmail" of the state is considered more acceptable than mass layoffs. Companies take advantage of the fact that politicians and officials are afraid of social unrest, in addition, they need the support of companies in elections and in the implementation of large-scale projects. Companies help politicians and the economy also by trying to support the national workforce. For example, Russia's construction industry allows the use of foreign labor, but a recent law on emigrants will reduce the influx of foreign labor and provide Russian construction workers with jobs.

The business ethics of companies must necessarily be consistent with economic responsibility. For example, the "brain drain" from domestic enterprises abroad has caused enormous damage to the Russian economy. The business community is neutral towards such operations. It is impossible to approve this, "but it is also impossible to condemn it, because the former public morality does not affect this problem in any way, and the liberal doctrine, as it were, implies the possibility of such a" overflow ". This example shows that ethics, like morality, only fixes reality, but does not affect business.