Corporate Ethics....Hiding Behind The Inc.

Is there really such a thing as corporate ethics?  I mean, can a company actually do anything?  In fact, is there really such a thing as a company...in terms of a conscious, living entity capable of taking independent action? 

Despite the fact that they have attained the right to free speech somewhere along the way, a corporation is nothing more than a piece of paper.  Written in the right format, signed and sealed by the right people and filed in the right place.  Ironically, the very purpose of these filings is to be able to identify who, in fact, was operating behind the facade of a fictitious name.  To make the individuals behind them accountable in some manner.

So, when we talk about corporate ethics, we're really just talking about personal ethics...period.  All actions come from the individual.  When a person acts in the name of the company, they are still acting as a person and should be taking direct responsibility for whatever decisions they make.  Somehow though, people feel and act differently when they can hide behind the corporation.  As if somehow, an action they would never consider taking with a friend or family member, is judged by a different standard. As Tom Hanks said in You've Got Mail...'Just keep telling yourself, it's just business....it's not personal....'

Today, corporate ethics appears to be nothing more than a sad, pathetic oxymoron.  Pretty words, written by some corporate image firm, to give that all-important perception of an ethical, corporate conscience.  But only a person can take...or choose not to take...an action.  After all, it's only people, organized into this artificial entity called a company, competing with other people organized as a different company, serving still more people in some way or another.  Apparently corporate ethics has become so rare these days, there even seems a need to give out "good conduct' awards...for not behaving badly.

I often wonder, before making any decision, if we imagine having to openly justify that decision, how much more ethically our decisions might become.  In the end though, it simply comes down to deciding how we want to treat other people.  What we are willing and capable of doing to other people....in the name of business.

What are your thoughts on corporate ethics?  Is there really a difference between individual and corporate ethics?  I'd like to hear from you on this.