Rights Approach: How to Make Ethical Decisions

Greek philosophers originated the human rights-based approach to applied ethics. This approach prioritizes human rights standards and steers duty-bearers (businesspeople) to take ethical actions when associating with rights holders (peers and people from other companies). The rights approach argues that human beings are worthy of certain entitlements—the moral rights of those you do business with must be upheld.

An essential aspect of the rights approach is treating others as ends, not just a means to an end. Moral virtues include being told the truth, the right to a degree of privacy, not being injured, and not being exploited or subjected to inequities.

In business, ethical decision-making is a strategy that prioritizes moral principles as a set of standards, rather than economic considerations, for making business decisions. Businesses that value ethical behavior may consider several ethical values, including how their actions reflect upon themselves and how their decisions affect the company, its employees, and the greater community or world. Common ethical issues in business include environmental concerns, employee well-being, operations transparency, product honesty, and customer satisfaction; many ethical dilemmas in business weigh these variables against economic growth.

Ethics philosophers have created dozens of models to help guide ethical decision-making, each with varied considerations and concerns. For example, consequentialist theories (like the utilitarian approach or the common good approach) center mainly on the consequences of actions, while non-consequentialist theories (like the duty-based approach or the rights approach) instead center on the intentions of the decision-maker or ethical obligation.

There are a few key elements to remember when practicing the rights approach:

1. 1. Advocate for others. In thinking ethically, advocacy is essential for those you are doing business with, not just those working for your own company. Such human rights principles include standing up against discrimination, asking others how you can best serve them, and taking action on others’ workplace harassment.
2. 2. Ask others questions. Instead of saying how someone should do something, ask others for their input and use that information to create a more collaborative environment.
3. 3. Practice self-reflection. As you take steps in your business journey, pause along the way and ask if your actions are self-serving, take in others’ considerations, and how your wants are impacting those around you, in and outside your organization.
4. 4. Tell the truth. Equip all businesspeople with the same information to level the playing field and not abuse anyone’s situation through a lack of shared knowledge.
5. 5. Use the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The United Nations lists extensive guidelines and international laws modeling the many facets that make up a human’s intrinsic rights. Abiding by these in global affairs is one way to practice the rights approach.

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