Business It Outsourcing – Ethical Issues

March 14th, 2011
Ethics is a very important aspect of any business. Without ethics a business is as good as dead. Businesses that do not embrace good ethics do not have a long lifespan. Ethical issues may differ from one profession to another. However ethics is generally the same in all the professions. Business it outsourcing also has a few ethical issues. They include the following;
Very many companies face ethical dilemma when outsourcing IT services to overseas countries such as India and china. They do this because these countries have qualified people who offer quality services at a low price. Most Americans feel that outsourcing is unethical because it leads to loss of jobs. However the companies that outsource the services defend themselves by saying that if they refrain from outsourcing, they would not be competitive and that could lead to business closure which will definitely lead to more job losses. Hence instead of shutting down their operation because they can’t keep up with the competition, they opt to outsource the services, lay off a few employees and remain competitive in the industry.
Another ethical issue in business it outsourcing is work environment. Some outsourcing companies threat their employees when they ask questions. They also subject them to harsh working conditions such as working in a crowded office that may lack proper ventilation. The remuneration is also very low for these employees. The labor force in the countries where these outsourcing companies operate from is so high such that there is excess supply of labor. You should ask questions such as employee compensation before hiring the services of an outsourcing company. That way you will know whether the employees are threatened or not.
There are some business that lay off employees harshly or without prior notice. This usually happens immediately they find out that they can get the same services at a lower cost. Businesses should make the employees comfortable during the layoff process. You should also explain to them why you have decided to outsource the services. That way they will leave the company without much drama. They will also remain loyal to your company. You should also ensure that there is transparent communication between the management and the employees. That way they will not keep guessing about the security of their job. These are the main ethical issues in business it outsourcing. Abiding by them will help improve the image of your company.

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