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Q: Do you have business ethics?
Frauds, cheating, lying, scams, fake products and whatnot are just some of things which can be new to the people who work here or do business.
Surely in every business anywhere around the world you can find any of those, but things here are on completely new level.
I tried to be honest, had principles and all that, but I noticed, the more you do, the more you are being taken advantage off. I am seriously reconsidering my stance, shouldn't I play back like that. I mean, where do you draw the line, being honest and all that simply doesn't seem to pay off here.
10 years 22 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
but you can sleep guilt free at night . Just because somebody rips another off does not mean it is right for you to continue the deed,
I walk a clean path (except for all the gunk people spit on it) I wouldn't even take a black cab, and I will ask my Chinese family to not use guangxi to do anything for me, like skip ahead in line instead of waiting my turn.
The more I do the right thing, the more it is clear to me it is the right thing.
Business ethics are a luxury afforded only to the rich it seems to me. And they're only rich because they got so by ignoring a moment's wasted time on business ethics.
I remember how one professor challenged us with business ethics question. His argument was that that those with money and good businesses can easily talk loud about business ethics, since they already have things and don't need to worry about surviving. But what about those in poverty who are making day to day living.
Is it really so unethical for some father who can’t feed his kids, to do a night shift work without employment contract so he can put food on the table next day. I know this is extreme case, but the point is, what is ethical for some, isn’t necessary ethical for others. There is a lot of hypocrisy in business ethics.
Sleeping good with clean soul is best, but what about sleeping in cold out in the park. Would you still be telling yourself that you won’t use some white lie to be able to buy food and place to sleep, or you would rather say your kids, hey sorry, today you will be hungry, because I didn’t want to have side work without contract, as my soul wouldn’t be clean.
I know, this cases are extreme, but if you point out, ok, in this case is ok, but in that and that case is not ok, you are already hypocrite and express self-righteous, drawing lines that only your moral stance is the right one.
mendicuz:
Don't think students taking business courses at a university nor many of the country's business leaders are "just trying to get by", and yet here is their argument otherwise.
You bring up some good and valid points but remember, since 1949 Chinese people have been treated like children and thus think and behave in kind. The very same government today acts like a petulant child, "Those are MY islands!" "You hurt MY feelings..."
And keep in mind that the Chinese culture is 'built' on Confucian ethics, not Judeo-Christian ethics and thus a whole other regimen of "rights and wrongs" apply.
McDominic:
Talking about Judeo-Christian ethics - what ethics? Hypocrisy at best. Maybe like for example "life is sacred" sure, just look at most wars, crusades, inquisition and burning witches. Or maybe since we are talking about business ethics, sure, just look at all the taxes church pays :)
Sinobear:
I'm not taking the stance of religious dogma, just making the point that our ethics are based on an entirely different value system.
Mateusz:
Since the establishment of the PRC, it's been officially atheist, and keeps trying to remove any traces of other religious influences. Morality has become based on, at least officially, "Whatever feels good." mixed with "Whatever the government tells you."
The PRC officially stated that one reason they opposed the Falun Gong was that the Falun Gong abjured material wealth and greed on religious principle, which the PRC said were, "spiritual beliefs against militant atheism and historical materialism."
I'm sure Marx would have been surprised to find that one of the guiding principles of Marxism is "Greed is good", but if The Party say so, then it must be true.
For sure, being honest in business here, is not fashion and easily you will be in the sh1t. Anyway, I have 99,99% of time keeping the clean line. Even our staff was taking advantage of our sincerity and good heart, at that times back. It is on everyone conscience.
Just be yourself and adjust to the situation 
Just few minutes ago, some of my colleagues in office, was leaving to meet with potential customer. They will bring him the price list and talk business. Of course, there was mistake of one showing a bag with Chanel perfume and talk to someone its a gift for him 
This is against my skin.
Business ethics here in China has a different meaning than what we know in the west. We have being conditioned so well to do things that are morally pleasing to ourselves, to those around us, and to the Higher one, that we suffer extreme culture shock when we discovered elsewhere that those laws and actions do not apply. So the question is 'do we do what the Romans do...or in this case, like the Chinese do?' Will we be able to sleep at night? I am sure most of us would...if we reconditioned ourselves to the Chinese norm. But then we would no longer become the solution, but the problem. Where would that leave us? Outside of China, blacklisted. While it is the norm for the Chinese to engage in these unethical behavior, it is unacceptable for the foreigners to come and engage in like behavior...how would the Chinese survive if that was to happen?
Business ethics is an expendable and sacrificial set of values(?) used by many companies for marketing purposes and for psychological manipulation of consumers and employees. More often than not, profit dictates how 'business ethics' is defined in a business entity. And since profit is variable, so is business ethics.
It is unfortunate that, sometimes, doing the right thing can get you branded as a 'non-conformist' , fired, or land you in jail...or worse.
I once worked for an auditing firm, and my naivete in doing things (as a newbie) the ethical way sent my ass to be lectured about '"how things are done around here."
It is indeed difficult to run a business when you have to, or are forced to, play by the rules as dictated by the existing 'business culture'; ethical or otherwise.
I was a teacher at Mianyang Foreign Languages School in Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China. I was discharged after 30 days. I received no salary, severance, or travel reimbursement. Do you support not paying foreign teachers at British Columbia Ministry of Education certified schools?
Englteachted:
According to the probationary period of your contract, did they break it? what did you do wrong?
I was a teacher at Mianyang Foreign Languages School in Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China. I was discharged after 30 days. I received no salary, severance, or travel reimbursement. Do you support not paying foreign teachers at British Columbia Ministry of Education certified schools?
Business ethics are a subset of our overall moral disposition. Our morals are a reflection of who we are as a person. My character doesn't change just because my place of residence does. I refuse to undermine myself just because others around me have chosen to cheat, lie and steal. My morals/ethics are very personal and intrinsic to my personality. I won't change them because of some basic thing as money.
