Maintaining Good Government Relations and Business Ethics
Legal Environment Why is it so important? Why is it so important? Why is it so confusing? Why is it so confusing?
Basic Laws for Small Businesses Uniform Commercial Code Uniform Commercial Code Nine areas Nine areas Torts Torts Bankruptcy Bankruptcy Ordinary bankruptcy Ordinary bankruptcy Involuntary bankruptcy Involuntary bankruptcy Chapter 11 bankruptcy Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Government Help Small Business Administration Small Business Administration Service Corps of Retired Engineers Service Corps of Retired Engineers U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Commerce U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture
Handling Regulations and Paperwork Benefits of Regulations Benefits of Regulations Problems with Regulations Problems with Regulations Too difficult to understand Too difficult to understand Too much paperwork Too much paperwork Difficulty and cost in meeting standards Difficulty and cost in meeting standards Hiring more people= More regulations Hiring more people= More regulations Discouraged employers Discouraged employers
Handling Regulations and Paperwork Coping Coping Learn as much as possible about the law Learn as much as possible about the law Challenge laws Challenge laws Elect people to change laws Elect people to change laws Find better legal environment Find better legal environment Learn to live with them Learn to live with them Private Regulators Private Regulators
Choosing a Lawyer When to Hire When to Hire Where to Look Where to Look What to Look for What to Look for Experience Experience Time Time Demeanor/atmosphere/customers Demeanor/atmosphere/customers Cost Cost Maintaining Relationships Maintaining Relationships How lawyers charge How lawyers charge
Socially and Ethically Responsible Behavior Increasing Emphasis Increasing Emphasis Social Responsibility Social Responsibility Consumerism Consumerism Employee Relations Employee Relations Hiring minorities Hiring minorities Planning for safety Planning for safety Environmental Protection Environmental Protection Pollution control Pollution control Conservation Conservation Community Relations Community Relations
Business Ethics What is unethical behavior? What is unethical behavior? 54% of employees run “afoul of law or workplace standards” 54% of employees run “afoul of law or workplace standards” Trust in business leaders Trust in business leaders Junk food Junk food
Creating an Ethical Environment Three levels of ethical behavior Three levels of ethical behavior Laws Laws Codes of ethics Codes of ethics Personal ethics Personal ethics Ethical Leadership Ethical Leadership Go beyond laws and social responsibility Go beyond laws and social responsibility Integrate ethics into company and individual employees Integrate ethics into company and individual employees
Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations Clear standards Clear standards Ethics training for employees Ethics training for employees A report system for misconduct A report system for misconduct Establishing a track record of disciplining violators Establishing a track record of disciplining violators If followed, can reduce federal fines by up to 95%!!! If followed, can reduce federal fines by up to 95%!!!
Rotary International’s Four Way Test Is it the truth? Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it bring goodwill and better friendship? Will it bring goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?