De George’s discussion: Differences between small and medium-sized businesses on one hand and large businesses on the other
Before the onset of business ethics majority of medium-sized businesses owners operated their enterprises guided by religious values as opposed to big corporations. These were religious morals taught in their childhood. Initially, people were more willing to work in medium-sized than big enterprises for fear of being exploited by being overworked. This is because multinational corporations (large businesses) applied child labor or paid poorly their workers thus exploiting them especially in countries with stagnated economies. By then, small and medium endeavors were more advantageous to work with. This led to corporations almost being overtaken by the small and medium-sized businesses in the market. It resulted to demeaning of the dignity of human resource in the firm and saw to serious evolving of commercial ethics and related movements.
Faced by this criticism, corporations emerged with changes opposed to small enterprises even advertising in the media to gain the confidence of the people. This included; moral responsibility and medical welfare of its workers. Also, sustenance of good environment by controlled release of effluents. It has led to large business outdoing the small and medium-sized enterprises in the commerce and currently being preferred as good employers. This is because big businesses in 1960s responded quickly to public pressure as opposed to small and medium-sized which slowly embraced business values and started implementing.
On establishment of business ethics, corporations had internal and external structures which catered both for their employees and firm. Employees had to act morally without being coerced to do so by the set structures. These were possible because clearly established lines of responsibility and continued uplifting of corporation’s ethics code. The small businesses conversely insisted on coercion of employees to get things being done by relying on erected structures. These were outdated set business values. In compliance to 1964 Act, corporations gave equal opportunity to their workers despite their color, origin or on basis of their religion. They also established equal pay to all employees for the piece of work done and discouraged interstate segregation for free and fair market. Small endeavors were disadvantaged as they had not embraced ethics fully to have a competitive merit.
Large businesses could employ legal business ethicity force from education sector to improve their efficiency as compared to small and medium-sized endeavors which had limited resources. Corporations could employ qualified required staff to undertake the necessary responsibilities. It yielded to the welfare of the employees and their recognition in the many corporations. Realization of workers rights and call for their protection was due to strong educational base on business values and ethics’ movement. Workers had say in their various working places and could then vent out their grievances through well set channels to their respective bodies and be handled well. They were now able to stage strikes and demonstrations to push for their rights if no listened to in a peaceful way.
These bodies included human resources and safety sectors in the organizations. By responding to legislative measures, public pressure and use of social audits, corporations have resulted to use of social language. Also self-evaluation on what they have achieved as far as welfare of workers is concerned while small businesses mostly concentrate on study of their policies and how much they have gained. This is due to urge to grow and keep in pace with already established firms and competition in the interstate and global market.
