People`s quality of life can be improved through legal and ethical standards designed to ensure that no one in society is threatened by terrorism or criminal behaviour. Ethical standards are formulated in accordance with societal norms. Heads of government create legal norms in the form of laws and laws. Ethical standards are based on human notions of right and wrong, which is why they are important. When it comes to ethical and legal standards, not everything that is legal is always legal. The definition of legal norms is a set of principles based on laws promulgated by the Government. The statutes and laws cited by lawyers are based on law. Legal provisions are useful because they tell people what they cannot do. Those who break the law can be held liable if legal standards are in place. If you have any questions about this or other local government issues, please use our Ask MRSC form or call us at (206) 625-1300 or (800) 933-6772. If you have any comments on this blog post or any other topic you would like us to write about, please email me jdoherty@mrsc.org.
Legal and ethical norms are rules and principles that people in the same society are familiar with. For example, if you live in the United States, you will be familiar with the laws of the country. You will also learn about the ethical standards of American society. Legal norms are standards set out in state laws. All laws to which lawyers refer are legal norms. If you drive through a big city downtown, you`ll notice parking signs everywhere telling you that you can`t park there for a long time, and they`ll quote a city law or code. This shows a legal standard. Ethical standards refer to a set of values developed by the institution`s founders to guide the organization`s behavior.
Decision making can be supported by referring to the code provided here. Organizational culture relies heavily on these standards. They set out the expectations of owners and senior managers regarding the behavior of employees and suppliers, at least in the context of the relationship between the two parties. These principles are widely disseminated and strictly applied within a corporate governance framework. Leaders can foster a positive work environment by setting an example for lower-level employees. Most ethical companies aim to develop the moral courage, moral beliefs, and moral efficacy of their employees. Violations of ethical standards may result in fines, exclusions or other sanctions for the appropriate counsel. Since paralegals are not called to the bar, the lawyer or firm they worked for is usually held responsible for their actions. I began my first draft of this article before the recent wave of publicity and allegations of serious disrespect for women, which in many cases constituted illegal behavior. The many descriptions that have been provided in the media indicate a serious problem, which cannot be solved if we all behave “legally” with each other.
That`s not all. We need to review our behavior to see if we respect others in the many ways we interact. In the case of a crime, offenders may be subject to imprisonment and fines, court orders, restitution and other unpleasant consequences. There is no evidence that this generalization extends specifically to civil servants, although breaking the law is generally dangerous. Laws set standards by establishing procedures on how things should be done, such as how public servants should be elected. In addition, they set standards in various fields. For example, they contribute to the accuracy of food scales, fuel pumps and other measuring instruments in general. Most hunters would agree that some hunting behaviours are ethical. Some behaviours are unethical. Other behaviors are in a gray area, and each hunter must make a personal decision.
Which of the following behaviors is in the gray area? If the company decides not to hire smokers, it would essentially infringe on the individual`s right to engage in a lawful activity. If the company requires employees to smoke, what else can they decide for employees? The National Institute of Health reports that the total national cost of being overweight and obese combined was $113.9 billion. Does the company set body mass index (BMI) limits for potential employees to reduce the cost of medical care for obesity-related illnesses? As you can see, such decisions are complex and, some would say, a slippery slope. Ethically and legally have different meanings, although they both aim to ensure that people live well. Ethical means carrying the value of distinguishing good from bad behavior, while legal means acting in accordance with the law. In addition, legal and ethical standards aim to improve the quality of life of all members of society and to ensure that they live together peacefully, without the threat of terrorism or criminal activities. Legal and ethical standards are based on laws and ideas that everyone in a given society understands. For example, if someone lives in the United States, they will become familiar with the country`s legal system and get a feel for how the American way of life works. Legal conduct follows the requirements of laws that are written and interpreted by the courts. In decision-making, the determination of the legality of a course of action is facilitated by the existence of laws, regulations and codes.
Contrary to ethical considerations, there are fixed penalties for illegal behavior. However, as society evolves, so does what constitutes legal behaviour. For example, until recently, possession or use of marijuana was illegal in the state of Colorado. As a result of the legislation that legalized marijuana, existing laws must be reinterpreted, and there is no doubt that other laws will be enacted to regulate formerly illegal conduct. Regardless of whether a person considers it ethical to use a potentially harmful substance, it is a fact that the law now allows such behavior. Treating others with respect, whether in our social groups or in the workplace, is the fundamental glue that drives groups to work positively to solve problems. Even if we disagree with others on different issues, we should take the time to listen to opposing views and understand why someone else might have a different perspective. Did you spot the word “should” in that last sentence? Modern democracies do not dictate that we treat each other with respect, they can only lead the way and enact laws regarding “legal” minimum requirements. As you will see in the rest of this module, there is often a complex interplay of ethical and legal considerations when companies try to do “the right thing” – by law, through their shareholders, employees, customers and other stakeholders. Another similarity is that legal and ethical standards help society as a whole. The legal norms are there to allow the authorities to punish offenders so that people have some kind of security. Ethical standards exist for the same reason.
Both are there to help people feel safe and prevent people from being hurt by others. Ethical standards, on the other hand, do not necessarily have a legal basis. They are based on the human principles of good and evil. For example, if you try to park your car in a parking lot and there is only one parking space left, the only legal standard you must follow is not to exceed the speed limit or crash into another car. Now, if you see another car going to that place, ethical standards tell you not to fight for space, but to give room to the car that was there first. It is the right thing to do. This is an ethical standard. Imagine you were the one walking around the place right now, and someone was walking by and parking there. You would feel treated unfairly, and yes, you have been wronged, ethically. At the end of the day, it`s about who we think we`re respectful.
Let us show basic respect for all people – men and women who belong to a different race or religion, or who hold different political opinions, etc.