Abstract

SWIATKIEWICZ, Olgierd. Dimensão ética da conduta das empresas e dos trabalhadores: Factos empíricos de um estudo exploratório realizado em Portugal. Comport. Organ. Gest. [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.2, pp.281-297. ISSN 0872-9662.

The paper presents selected results of an empirical study carried out in Portugal in 2004 on companies and workers’ ethical behaviour, based on convenience sample. It is assumed that ethical dimension of companies and workers’ behaviour is a concept composed of such aspects as ethical reflection, legal obligation, ethical image of a domestic economy, ethical image of a businessman and a firm as well, corporate responsibility, deontological obligations of the firm, perception of unethical behaviour, whistle blowing, institutionalisation and formalisation of ethics. All presented aspects of ethical dimension were analyzed in the light of the impact of selected independent (individual and institutional) variables (sex; age; level of education; tenure; hierarchical level; actual and future sense of security of employment and career development; property and capital origin of the company; its size, age, sector and financial situation). The main results point out a positive impact on workers’ cognitive level as a result of the implementation of elements of formal ethics in a company, which might, however, lead to the suppression of responsibility and to indulgence towards potentially immoral action; the increase of a positive image (honesty) of the business/company as the hierarchical responsibility rises and vice versa; the trust in national companies decreases as the feeling of security of employment lessens whereas the trust in foreign capital companies rises; the bigger the size of the company is, the higher is the level of trust; the existence of ethical standards is more likely to be found in foreign companies than in national ones.

Keywords : Ethical conduct of workers and companies in Portugal; ethical perception; legality; ethical image of Portuguese economy; businessman & company; CSR; ethical misconduct; whistle blowing; institutionalization and formalization of ethics.

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