Fundamentals of Management, 11/e

Why Should Managers Be Concerned with Communicating Ethically?

Fifteen percent of employees say they wish their managers would improve their communication skills, especially in clarity and transparency.68

It’s particularly important today that a company’s communication efforts be ethical. Ethical communication “includes all relevant information, is true in every sense, and is not deceptive in any way.”69 On the other hand, unethical communication often distorts the truth or manipulates audiences. What are some ways that companies communicate unethically? It could be by omitting essential information. For instance, not telling employees that an impending merger is going to mean some of them will lose their jobs is unethical. It’s also unethical ...