Question

What is the difference between unethical and unlawful behavior? Please provide examples for both behaviors in your discussion.

Answer 1

Unethical and unlawful behaviors hold similarities in the approach that both acts are deemed as having a negative impact on the business that is facing any allegation of wrong conduct. However there is a difference between the two terms, unethical and unlawful behavior which are discussed as below:

-- By definition, unlawful behavior in business refers to what is prohibited by law, it is criminal or illegal. On contrary ethics is a set of principles of right behaviour.

-- In an organization, laws are the set of rules which are enforced by the ruling governments to discipline the companies. However, “ethics” are the moral codes set by the company on the basis of the society's culture.

-- In an unlawful behavior, the decision-making factor is the law agency, however for an unethical act, the deciding agent is the person’s own conscience.

--It is easy to detect to unlawful behavior; however, unethical behavior is tough to detect.

-- International laws on unlawful behavior are similar for all however the international ethics can differ for different cultures and regions.

For example, a mining exploration company that is not making effort to ease inconvenience and discomfort of the people that are displaced by its operations could be considered unethical however not illegal. In this case, mining exploration company is solely concerned about its profit and making no attempt to mitigate the impact of its operations in that society