Dell’s and Google’s Conflict Essay

TO Professor Crumpton
FROM Sarah Fanning
SUBJECT Laws vs Ethics, Dell vs Google
DATE June 7, 2016
Laws and ethics are different in many ways. Laws have to do with principles and regulations. They say what we should do. Ethics have to do with moral principles and values. They suggest what we could do. Labor laws have authorized definition. Codes of conduct don't.
I believe that laws are more important because they regulate society. Ethics, they are more personal and are used to regulate within work environments. Ethics are considerations, values, integrity, credibility, etc. Laws are in the form of legislation or of customs and policies recognized and enforced by judicial decision. When ethics become way too unethical, they then turn into a legal matter. I think that ethics are in all laws, but laws aren't in all ethics. Without laws, the world would be in chaos.
Corporations are not forced to have codes of conduct. Both Dell and Google have codes of conduct. Both businesses have reputations that they have to keep and their reputations are one of their most valuable assets. These corporations are believed to be honest, trustworthy, and caring both in and out of the work place.
Dell and Google's slogans are totally opposite. Dell's slogan is, "How we win." Google's slogan is, "Don't be evil." Dell ranked #9 and Google was right at the top with Microsoft among the world's most ethical companies.
Dell's Code of Conduct provides guidance to all their team members on how to behave in a respectful manner legally and ethically, within the legal requirements. It is a guidebook for winning with integrity. Their Code of Conduct also says that they accept the consequences of their own and they admit to their mistakes and quickly correct them.
Google's Code of Conduct is built around their motto "Don't be evil." But of course their motto has aroused skepticism. Google has written questions in their Code of Conduct for employees to ask themselves if they are ever faced with a conflict. An example of these questions are whether an activity would create an actual or apparent incentive for an employee to benefit themselves, friends, or family, would harm their reputation, hurt their ability to do the job or embarrass the company or the employee if it showed up in the press. If they answer yes to any of the questions, they believe the relationship or situation is likely to have a conflict of interest and it should be avoided.
Google has a "Dog Policy." Dell doesn't have an animal policy. Google is dog friendly and prefers their employees to bring dog's but not cats into the workplace. I don't necessarily agree with this policy. I think that this policy is discriminating. It discriminates against the employees who are not dog lovers or who are allergic to dogs. It also discriminates against cats and the employees who may love them.
Although Google has a high rating for their code of ethics, there is still reason for skepticism.