Debate Against (( Human resources manager are the guardians of ethics in business)) - Essay Example

Do Human resources managers are the guardians of ethics in business? Do Human resources managers are the guardians of ethics in business? Many peoplehave the illusion that human resource managers are the guardians of ethics and morality in business. However the duties of human resource manager have nothing to with the ethics of business. According to deontological theories of ethics, “people should adhere to their obligations and duties when analysing an ethical dilemma”(Rainbow, n. d). The major duties of HRM managers are recruitment, retention, training and development of the employees.

Moreover they should be able to post the right person at the right place at the right time. Business ethics and other matters will be determined by the top management rather than the human resource managers. In short deontology theory of ethics never asks HRM managers to work for the protection of ethics in business. “For deontologists, the Right has priority over the Good. If an act is not in accord with the Right, it may not be undertaken, no matter the Good that it might produce” (Alexander, 2007).

The above principle cannot by applied in an organizational set up always. In business, maximization of profit through efficient functioning of the organization is the major objective. It is impossible to analyze all the actions through the microscopes of morality in business. For example, there are certain instances in which the HRM managers forced to promote a junior employee over a senior employee because of the superior abilities of the junior employee compared to that of the senior employee.

According to the deontological principles, only the senior employee could be promoted even if he might be useless. In that manner an organization cannot work.”Deontologists do not look at how much good might be caused by an action. They look at the action itself, deciding whether it is prohibited or made obligatory by one of their rules” (Ethical Theory – Deontology, n. d). In other words, the arguments of deontologists are not applicable to the HRM managers. “Ethical egoism relies on the assumption that following one’s own self-interest will generally provide a maximum of benefit” (Koster, 2007, p.8). “It is the prescriptive doctrine that all persons ought to act from their own self-interest” (Philosophy 302: EthicsEthical Egoism, 2009).

In an organizational set up, the above principle cannot be applied. In an organization, the HRM manager should work for the interests of the organization rather than their self-interests. The interests of the employees and the interests of the organization may not go in the same direction. The organization always likes to derive the maximum out of the employees at low cost whereas the employees will try to deliver minimum for maximum benefits. It is duty of the HRM managers to safeguard the interests of both the organization and the employees.

At the same time they cannot tolerate the efforts of underperforming employees. Taking action against underperforming employees is an essentiality and HRM managers should not worry about the ethical principles in such circumstances. To conclude, neither ethical egoism nor deontologist theory of ethics is applicable to human resource managers. They have nothing to do with protection of ethics in business. References 1. Alexander L (2007). Deontological Ethics. [Online] Available at: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-deontological/ [Accessed on 29 October 2011]2.

Ethical Theory – Deontology (n. d). Online] Available at: http://www3.sympatico.ca/cogito/Gr11/deontology.html [Accessed on 29 October 2011]3. Koster M (2007). Ethics in Human Resource Management . GRIN Verlag, 20074. Philosophy 302: Ethics Ethical Egoism (2009). [Online] Available at: http://philosophy.lander.edu/ethics/ethical_ego.html [Accessed on 29 October 2011]5. Rainbow C. (n.d). Descriptions of Ethical Theories and Principles. [Online] Available at: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/indep/carainbow/Theories.

htm [Accessed on 29 October 2011]