"An Ethics Code Can't Replace a Backbone - Outlining inappropriate behavior in a code to avoid future problems can be a healthy response to an ethics problem. But if the code is inconsistent with the culture as employees perceive it, then it appears to be only window dressing and hypocritical. Thereby rendering it ineffective and useless." Author Unknown
             Working in corporate America can jade a person. A few years of watching the stealing, lying, insincerity, illegal behavior, and passive acceptance of a bad culture can make it the norm. Employees become complacent. Just go to work, put your head down, earn your pay check, and go home. If everybody else is doing it then it must be okay. The boss told me to do it, I have to or I will lose my job (actual defense of one of the accused WorldCom execs). It is pretty scary that this is the way tens of millions of Americans go through their day. Some participate actively in illegal and/or unethical behavior; others turn a blind eye to it. Is one worse than the other? Legally the answer is yes, morally the answer is no. Then there are those who walk the fine line of blatantly unethical behavior that is not illegal. One can only hope that they are punished by the dynamics of a market economy.
             What makes a person lie, cheat, steal, forge, or do bad things for a company? Each case is different. When a person of modest means breaks the rules I find it much easier to understand and relate to their motives. The root cause of a middle class person who breaks the rules is usually based out of financial necessity. Whether that necessity is to make a lot more money, get promoted, keep their job, or just get paid so they can pay the rent. It makes sense on some level. I am fascinated when a person who is very wealthy commits an illegal or immoral act while conducting business. Business is conducted to obtain a profit and make money. When you already have more ...