The shaping of Business Ethics Policy and the shaping of current legislation has a distinct connection. Typically laws reflect the morals held by society and to further enforce and ultimately support those morals and ethics. However it is interesting to note that there is not a direct connection between the two.

What might be considered Unethical is not necessarily Illegal. For although public opinion and societal views often shape and jump-start legislation, it is not a guaranteed response to make an unethical practice illegal.

The key insight to walkaway with, is that Business Ethics Policy's need to anticipate and understand the ethical views and ethical reactions of the consumer. If a company waits to enact Ethic's based policies after laws become passed then they are too LATE!

Business Ethics Policy's need to place themselves and their companies not just on the forefront of the latest ethics laws but ahead of them altogether. Businesses need to anticipate and encompass the ethical views, opinions and beliefs of their consumers before they are required to do so.

Tags: Business Ethics Policy, Ethics in Legislation, Understanding Ethics, Ethics in the Workplace, Business Ethics Policies