What an ethics management program cannot sufficiently address in an African context: an ethics survey’s results read through a Levinasian lens

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Vivier, E. ORCID: 0000-0003-3401-0365, Painter, M. ORCID: 0000-0002-7846-7220, Pogrund, G. and Myres, K., 2022. What an ethics management program cannot sufficiently address in an African context: an ethics survey’s results read through a Levinasian lens. Business and Professional Ethics Journal, 41 (2), pp. 287-314. ISSN 0277-2027

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.5840/bpej2022617121

Abstract

Ethics management programs have become a popular first step for organizations to manage ethical risks and employee behaviors. However, such programs may fail to foster moral responsiveness or acknowledge broader societal issues. This paper contributes to this discussion through an analysis of qualitative data from an ethics survey of fifteen South African companies. Results indicate employees experience persistent unethical behaviors in the form of the disrespect, bullying and discrimination. Reflecting on these results, the paper explores the limits of ethical management programs, and whether a compliance approach undermines the transformative ethics that is most needed in organizations struggling with diversity and inclusion. Drawing on Levinas, the paper shows that openness to the face of the Other does not lend itself to instrumental orientations, nor to formalized, standardized responses. Instead, moral responsiveness to particular Others is required, and it is this aspect that may be absent from South African ethics initiatives.

Item Type:

Journal article

Publication Title:

Business and Professional Ethics Journal

Creators:

Vivier, E., Painter, M., Pogrund, G. and Myres, K.

Publisher:

Philosophy Documentation Center

Date:

2022

Volume:

Number: