Comparative Ethics. Ethical Codes across Cultures

Ethical codes across different cultures varies, depending on the societal dictates of people from different parts or even regions (Transparency International, (n.d.)). This consequently results in different ethical values in different parts, hence certain states may allow its people to do one thing, while another state might oppose it. Due to that reason, this paper will give a comparison of legal codes the gift giving culture in the state of Alaska and Alabama, before going ahead to explain how the culture affects gift giving practices, and also provide ways of resolving conflicts emanating from legal, professional or personal ethical codes related to the acceptance of gifts (Gilman, 2005).

Alabama  

In this state, nobody is allowed to either offer or give either public officer or a member of a public staff anything inform of a bribe (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013). Nobody is supposed to receive gifts in order to affect his or her judgement, thus bribing and corruption in not in any way tolerated. In addition, no public employee or officer is supposed to ask for a bribe from anyone, in order to offer any form of favor. Even though whatever might be offered might be of a very high value, no one is supposed to accept that form of bribe (Transparency International, (n.d.)). Thirdly, nobody is allowed to offer a family member of a public officer any money or otherwise gift, in order to affect the decisions of the public employee, regarding lobbying of a legislative body or any commission under the legislature.

A person will therefore be termed as corrupt if he or she is acts voluntarily, and dishonestly in order to perform an unlawful act against the dictates of the law. No petitioner, or the representative of a petitioner is allowed to offer a valuable thing to a public employee. A public officer is not also allowed to receive whether knowingly or unknowingly a gift either in form of money or inform of valuable products from a petitioner or from his/her client (Gilman, 2005).

            Alaska

In as much as the ethical codes of gift giving are very strict, Alaska is a bit different, whereby public employees are allowed to receive gifts, guaranteed they do not reach a maximum of $250, whether they are in form of money or in form of entertainment, loans, services, travel or even a mortgage (Transparency International, (n.d.)). This consequently means that the public employee may receive any form of gift from anybody as long as it does not exceed the stipulated amount of money. However, a legislative employee in this state is not allowed to receive a gift from his or her immediate family if its net value is in excess of $250. Furthermore, a legislative employee is not allowed to accept any forms of gifts from petitioners, even though it might not exceed the required amount. There are also other exceptions such as food and beverage for consumption are not allowed, or should not be offered to legislative employees.

Legislative employees may on the other hand, enjoy gifts such as free rides, nonetheless a vacation outside Alaska is not permitted, thus limiting the legislative employee (Transparency International, (n.d.)). Discounts to the public or a large group of people are also legal, thus a legislative employee may benefit from this type of gifts. In addition, when in a public state or function, a legislative employee may receive the gifts guaranteed a reason for being given such a gift or gifts should be stipulated in a receipt. Contributions to charity events are also allowed, thus giving the public employees the chance to be able to carry out different activities such as helping the needy. Legislators who receive gifts of more than $250 from must present a reason from as to why he or she defied or went against the rule of law and took the gift (Gilman, 2005).

Influence of Culture on the Ethics of Gift giving    

The culture acts as a cornerstone of each and everything which takes place within the society. In other words, the society shapes the dictates of the society (Schultz, 2010). The ethics of gift giving is based on the general principles of the culture, whereby people are not supposed to be in any way corrupt. In the case of Alabama and Alaska, the culture of these states does not allow or even tolerate corruption and bribery. This has therefore allowed the state to be able to protect its public offices from any form of corruption (Transparency International, (n.d.)). On the other hand, in order for an organization to be able come up with a set of rules, the culture of the given geographic area is usually used. This therefore means that the state of Alaska and Alabama used these principles based on the dictates of the culture within the region.

Resolving Conflicts arising from the acceptance of Gifts

Code of ethics are supposed to be the guiding principles and standards of operations, thus allowing the employees to uphold a high degree of honesty, competent and accountability (Transparency International, (n.d.)). Due to that reason, each and every employee within a public sector will consequently be required to understand the code of ethics, and to also exercise it. If a person fails to do so then this could lead to misunderstanding or dishonesty. All public employee will consequently be required to the dictates of the code of ethics, thus streamlining the flow of work, a move which reduces the chances of conflicts within a public sector. Understanding the code of ethics will therefore be the best way of avoiding any conflicts within a public sector (Gilman, 2005).  

Reference

 

Gilman, S. C. (2005). Ethics codes and codes of conduct as tools for promoting an ethical and professional public service: Comparative successes and lessons. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/mena/governance/35521418.pdf

 

National Conference of State Legislatures. (2013). Ethics: Legislator gift restrictions overview. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.ncsl.org/research/ethics/50-state-table-gift-laws.aspx

 

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.). Ethics codes and codes of conduct in OECD countries. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.oecd.org/gov/ethics/ethicscodesandcodesofconductinoecdcountries.htm

 

Schultz, D. (2010). Ethics regulation across professions: The problem of gifting. Public Integrity, 12(2), 161–172.

Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

 

Transparency International. (n.d.). Research. Retrieved November 19, 2013, from http://www.transparency.org/research