ing ethics in the workplace.^92 However, a small group of companies is even starting a new
trend in monitoring ethical practices, hiring an ethical auditor, much like they would hire
a financial auditor. The ethical auditor is hired to “double-check an organization’s per-
ception of its own morals.”^93 Vancouver City Savings Credit Union (Vancity), Bell
Canada, Tetra Pak, British Telecom, the University of Toronto, and The Body Shop have
all brought in ethical auditors.
Another way to encourage ethical behaviour is to create mechanisms that encour-
age employees to speak up when they see wrongdoing. Toronto-based BBDO Canada
encourages “candour moments.” Employees are empowered “to call each other on
behaviour that goes against company values, even junior employees who want to be
candid with managers,” says the ad agency’s president and CEO, Gerry Frascione.^94What About National Culture?
We have already shown that there are differences between Canada and the United States
in the legal treatment of ethics violations and the creation of an ethical corporate cul-
ture. However, it is important to note that what is considered unethical in one country
may not be viewed similarly in another country. The reason is that there are no global
ethical standards. Contrasts between Asia and the West provide an illustration.^95 In
Japan, people doing business together often exchange gifts, even expensive ones. This is
part of Japanese tradition. When North American and European companies started
doing business in Japan, most North American executives were not aware of the Japanese
tradition of exchanging gifts and wondered whether this was a form of bribery. Most have
come to accept this tradition now and have even set different limits on gift giving in
Japan from other countries.^96
In another instance illustrating the differences between Asia and North America, a
manager of a large US company that operates in China caught an employee stealing.
Following company policy, she fired the employee and turned him over to the local
authorities for his act. Later she discovered, much to her horror, that the former employee
had been executed for the theft.^97 These examples indicate that standards for ethical
behaviour and the consequences of particular acts are not universally similar. The fact
that standards for ethical behaviour and the consequences of particular acts are not
universal presents a variety of problems for those doing business in other countries.318 Part 4Sharing the Organizational Vision
BBDO Canada
http://www.bbdo.ca
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Canada, based in Fredericton,
New Brunswick, wants to make
sure that its employees approach
ethical dilemmas with the confi-
dence to make the right decisions.
Therefore, the company conducts
an ethics training program for all
of its employees, from senior
managers to service providers.
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Canada
http://www.ups.com/canada/
engindex.html