Articles

Are You Focusing on Ethics?

By Melissa May, MA, APR

It’s June 2020, and America’s pandemic death toll has reached 100,000. Unemployment rates are rocketing, and food banks strive to meet the burgeoning demand. 

As we face the realities of this pandemic, we must ensure that the decisions we make reinforce our brand and our commitment to ethical management. 

Policymakers, who speak of trade-offs, struggle to balance the needs of public health with economic health. Business owners and senior management must consider their employees’ and constituents’ safety and wellness, along with their organizations’ financial sustainability. If we err on the side of economics without proper precautions, more people may die. When businesses are shut down, the human ramifications are dire as well. 

Can PR pros turn to ethicists to guide decision making in the time of COVID? Philosopher Jeremy Bentham, known for advancing utilitarianism, taught that the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people should be the foundation of morals and legislation. But is it clear which paths to choose today to generate the greatest good for your stakeholders? Your South Texas neighbors? 

Are you focusing on ethics when making difficult decisions in these unprecedented times? Share your stories! Want to help a family hit hard by the pandemic? Donate to your favorite charity or the SA Food Bank.