Bein Adam L'Chaveiro: Business Ethics
Introduction to Interpersonal Behavior (Bein Adam L'Chaveiro)
Commandments are of two types; those governing:
- Interpersonal behavior (Bein adam l'chaveiro), and
- Behavior between people and God (but interpersonal behavior is also a commandment between people and God).
Business Ethics
The Torah requires ethical behavior in business, as it does in all other areas of interpersonal behavior.
We must be honest in business. We may not cheat or mislead the customer or misrepresent what we are selling. We may follow whatever are the accepted norms for honest people in our area of business.
Amenities: Hotel Room
You may take whatever amenities are in your hotel room, as long as they are expected to be taken.
Amenities: Employees' Authority
Hotel employees are assumed to be authorized to give you whatever they give you.
Office Supplies: Personal Use
You may take office supplies for your personal use if your employer allows you to. If you are uncertain, ask!
Office Supplies: Permission from Boss
If your boss gives you permission to take or use things in an office where he is not the owner, we assume the boss has the authority to allow you to do whatever he tells you.
Office Supplies: Employee Directing Employee
An (non-owner) employee may not tell another (subservient) employee to take or use things for the benefit of that superior employee, unless the superior employee has the authority to take the items for himself.
Example: A doctor may not tell a secretary to take hospital envelopes and postage and mail personal items for the doctor.
Utilities: Personal Use
You may use telephone and other services that do not cost your employer anything as long as you do not have any work to do for your employer.
Jewish Court or Secular Court
A Jew must go to a Jewish court before going to a secular court if the issue is suitable for judging at a Jewish court.
Billing: Personal Time
Someone who bills for his or her time may not charge a client for time used for personal purposes.
Example: A lawyer must receive the client's OK before billing that client for time he used eating a meal in order to work more hours for the client.
Double Billing
If you normally bill for your travel time, it is unethical to bill another client for work you did for the second client during the travel.
Buying Stolen or Knock-Off Items
You may not knowingly buy a stolen item, nor an item that is illegally trademarked (for example, a knock-off purse or watch). However, if it is not certain that it is illegally marked or stolen, you may buy it.
Finding Out a Bought Item Had Been Stolen
If you bought an item and later found out that it had been stolen, you must return the item to the original owner, but that owner must refund to you the amount of money you paid.
Note: If the article was insured and the previous owner had already received payment for the loss, you do not need to return it.
Clerical Errors and Non-Jewish Business
If a non-Jewish business makes a mistake in your favor, it is considered a saintly trait to correct the mistake. It is especially a kiddush HaShem to return the money to them if they know that you are Jewish.
Clerical Errors and Jewish Business Owner
If a business makes a mistake in your favor, you must correct it if the:
- Business owner is Jewish, and
- Error is more than 1/6th of the item's value.
Note: It is recommended to correct the error even if the owner is not Jewish. Note: In some situations, you must correct the error to a Jewish owner even if the error is less than 1/6th of the item's value—consult a rabbi. Note: If the owner (Jewish or non-Jewish) forgot to charge you at all, you must return the item or pay for it.
Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their web site for more information.
This material is provided for informational purposes only – not a substitute for the consultation of a competent rabbi.