ON THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF BUSINESS

OWNERS AND EMPLOYERS

A. RIGHTS AND DUTIES

There are several rights and duties of business owners and employers but it is also important to
take note that these rights and duties may vary depending on the laws of a certain place, the
regulations of the industry and the contract of an employee. Thus, it is advisable to consult legal
professionals to further enlighten yourself regarding the specifics.

Rights:
1. Right to establish and operate a business within legal limits.
- As long as no lines are crossed that could poorly affect a business or
business owner, then a business owner has the right to operate a
business.
2. Right to make business decisions, such as hiring, firing, and setting policies
- This right is crucial for a business owner or employer as these can be
factors to be considered to foresee the success of a business.
3. Right to earn profits and manage the financial aspects of the business
- This right is essential to make sure that a business is on its feet and is
being managed well. Alongside this is the responsibility to adhere to the
laws such as paying taxes.
4. Right to protect intellectual property, trademarks, and patents.
- Protecting one's intellectual property maintains the value of one's ideas.
5. Right to negotiate contracts and conduct business transactions
- This one simply states that negotiating with business partners leads to an
equally beneficial agreement.

Duties:
1. Duty to comply with laws and regulations
- This includes understanding and implementing the legal requirements
such as health and safety regulations and labor laws.
2. Duty to provide a safe work environment
 - This means prioritizing an environment that delivers safety towards the
employees. This can be done by identifying the potential hazards in the
workplace and by promoting safety throughout.
3. Duty to pay fair wages
- Failure to do this can result in the dissatisfaction of employees and could
possibly be detrimental for the reputation of the employer and/or
company.
4. Duty to provide benefits and comply with labor standards
- Providing benefits such as health insurance, paid leaves, and more can
result in retaining employees as it promotes a healthy and positive work
environment.
5. Duty to respect employee rights
- Respecting the employees' rights means fostering a work environment
that is free from discrimination and toxicity towards the workers. This also
means not prohibiting the employees from expressing what needs to be
expressed.

The most important duty of business owners and employers is to ensure the welfare and
well-being of employees. This obligation is closely linked to the ethical dimensions of corporate
conduct. It is a responsibility to create and maintain a workplace that is free from hazards and
promotes physical and mental well-being of their employees. This includes providing
appropriate safety equipment, putting in place safety protocols, and addressing any potential
dangers that may develop in business operations. Business owners and employers have a
moral obligation to treat their employees fairly and with respect. This encompasses a variety of
factors, such as providing competitive wages and benefits, ensuring equal opportunities for
advancement, and fostering a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. By adhering
to these principles. Companies can contribute to their employees’ overall satisfaction,
motivation, and loyalty that can help foster a positive work environment.
The freedom to make decisions about their firm without outside intervention is one of the
rights of business owners. This includes the freedom to decide which goods or services to
provide, how to promote them, and what prices to charge. Business owners are free to conduct
themselves in a manner they feel is best for their organization and its success because of this
privilege.
B. BENEFITS AND COSTS
Once correct and just policies are implemented in the work environment, a good
rapport between a business owner (or employer) and worker forms. There are many
ways to establish this rapport, as hinted above. For this discussion, we will look at three.

1. Paying fair wages

Workers exert time, energy, and effort during their work hours, and thus it is only right to
pay them the just amount, and at least follow the minimum wage standards of their
regions. This may seem like a large cost to pay, especially when the business is small
and has not gained much profits, although the benefit is that the worker (or workers)
would stay with the employer for a longer period of time because their efforts are
compensated correctly.
2. Providing insurance
In more risky work, like construction, anything medical-related, or simply the work in
different product factories, a handful of workers may encounter life-threatening
situations, like fire hazards, falling debris and sustain accidents. The benefit of having
health insurance, for example, would be a great help, especially in these types of work
environments as the worker would not worry very much about their hospital bills. In turn,
the slight cost would be in the form of said injured working being away from their duties
while the workload would be shared to others.
3. Fair Treatment
Refers to making sure that the employees are treated fairly and without bias in all
aspects of their employment, including recruiting, compensation, advancement, training,
working environment, and disciplinary actions. Ensure that all employees regardless of
gender, race, age, religion, or disability, have equal access to job opportunities, career
promotions, and professional development based on their skills and performance.
Acknowledging and supporting employee’s desire for work-life balance through flexible
working arrangements, time off, and building employee’s well being.
4. Social protection and benefits
Many jobs provide social protection benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans,
and paid leave. These benefits contribute to workers' well-being by providing financial
security during times of illness, injury, or retirement. Additionally, workplace benefits can
promote work-life balance and support employees in managing their personal and
professional responsibilities.
 5. Social stability
Gainful employment promotes social stability by providing individuals with a sense of
purpose, dignity, and self-worth. When people have access to decent work and fair
wages, it reduces inequality, enhances social cohesion, and fosters a more harmonious
society. Gainfully employed individuals are less likely to engage in criminal activities and
are more likely to actively participate in their communities.

All of these examples fall under the general well-being and protection of a business’ workers. In
sum, from the perspective of utilitarianism, the benefits would outweigh the costs in the long run
as it benefits the majority of its manpower with little negative consequence.

Utilitarianism may overlook the rights of minority groups or individuals whose interests might be
sacrificed for the greater good because its primary goal is to maximize general happiness.
Another complaint is that it can be difficult to precisely gauge happiness or utility, which could
make it difficult to form impartial moral judgments.

Utilitarianism has made substantial contributions to a number of disciplines, including ethics,

politics, and economics, notwithstanding these objections. It has added to conversations about
how resources are allocated, how public policies are created, and how moral quandaries are
assessed.

REFERENCES:
https://okcredit.in/blog/legal-rights-of-business-owner/
https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/workplace-rules-for-business-owners-and-em
ployees
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/u/utilitarianism.asp#:~:text=Utilitarianism%20is%20a%20th
eory%20of,of%20society%20as%20a%20whole.
ETHICS (4MUS-1)
2nd Semester - S.Y. 2022 - 2023

GROUP 3 - Business Owners and Employers:

Adao
Casal
Crispino
Dela Cruz
Ocat
Rañeses
Sinchioco

Submitted on: May 25, 2023