jewish association for business ethics

Jewish Principles
in the Workplace

A Money and Morals Guide

JABE’s mission is to instil the values of honesty,

integrity and social responsibility by teaching the
Jewish approach to business ethics

www.jabe.org
Why a guide? Guiding Principles
Consider the consequences of your actions
Judaism regards the dignity of work as an essential
For one positive act leads to another positive
part of life. The legal system and Jewish law provide
the basic framework for operating within the act and one transgression leads to another
commercial world. transgression - Ethics of the Fathers 4:2

Value integrity and fairness

Beyond this, Judaism urges us to set exemplary
Hillel said: What would be hateful to you
standards of ethical behaviour and to epitomise the
Jewish concept of Lifnim M’Shuras Hadin (Going do not do to others - Babylonian Talmud;
beyond the letter of the law). Tractate Shabbat P 31 Col 1

Maintain dignity of speech and action

You shall do what is straightforward and
We are reminded to remember God all the
right - Deuteronomy 6:18. (Rashi explains
this as Beyond what the law requires). “You time. A person ought to acquire for himself
shall make known to them the path in which those attributes that flow from remembrance
they should go and the deeds that they of God such as awe, modesty, appropriate
should do” [Shemot 18:20]. According to intention and good behaviour -
The Babylonian Talmud, this refers to actions Sefer Charedim Ch. 21
beyond the letter of the law (lifnim m’shuras
hadin). Tractate Baba Metziah P 30 Col 2 Cherish diversity and challenge discrimination
Love your fellow person as yourself -
This aspirational model of personal behaviour is Mishlei 2:20
reflected in these guiding principles which promote
positive character traits that can influence our Safeguard confidentiality
working environment. Rabba stated: From where do we learn that if
one relates something to another, the receiver
Office life of this information is prohibited from
repeating it to others without permission to
In the course of our working life we all assume do so? As it is written (Leviticus 1:1): “And
different roles: employer, manager, colleague the Lord spoke to him in the Tent of Meeting,
and, most frequently, employee. We automatically to say.” - Babylonian Talmud;
accept responsibility to various parties and Tractate Yoma P 4 Col 2
stakeholders including our employer, shareholders,
clients and the general public. This guide deals Admit mistakes
with these different stages within our working life, That you may walk in the way of good men,
namely entering the workplace, one’s working life and keep the paths of the righteous -
and leaving the workplace. Proverbs 2:20

An ethical guide to office life In the workplace

Entering the workplace Points to consider

Under what circumstances should I blow the
Points to consider whistle on a colleague?
Is it acceptable to withhold certain information Is it all right to take a few pens home from work
when I apply or recruit for a position? for the kids?
Should I take the job if I do not approve of what Is it ok to ‘round up’ my expenses?
the company does? Can I tell a ‘white lie’ when representing my
What lines should I draw when trying to be company?
accepted by my new colleagues?
Should I, as an employer, consider how much I Guidelines
think someone needs the job when hiring? * An employee’s primary responsibility is to their
employer
Guidelines * “Do not use company facilities (e.g. photocopier/
* Provide honest and accurate information to telephone) for personal purposes unless permitted
potential employers/employees and avoid to do so by your employer”. Also, any time spent
knowingly making false or inaccurate statements on private matters during work hours should be in
* Disclose all relevant information and respect the line with employer’s guidelines
need for confidentiality * Do not undertake out-of-hours work which may
* Strive to build constructive working relationships have a negative impact on your day-to-day role
and value your colleagues’ opinions * Report instances of corrupt practices to the correct
* Ensure that new employees understand their role authorities
and how it relates to the rest of the workforce * Safeguard the confidentiality of data and
* Do not poach employees information of a non-public nature
* During the application process, avoid questions * Maintain a dignity of speech and action with
that are not directly related to the job, e.g. marital colleagues, employees and clients
status or race * Ensure employees are given duties appropriate to
* Value diversity and equal opportunities their level of competence. Offer employees any
training necessary to enable them to carry out
Sources their contractual duties effectively and help them
You should keep your distance from a falsehood develop their full potential
- Exodus 23:7 * Pay promptly. This applies equally to wages and
Do not encroach on the boundary of your expenses
neighbour (in connection with poaching
employees) - Deuteronomy 19:14 Sources
Who is wise? He who learns from every person, as Even a good deed, if done (without permission) in
it is said: From all my teachers I grew wise - the employer’s time is a sin - Path of the Just 11
Ethics of the Fathers 4:1 Just as an employer is warned not to steal the
 payment due to the labourer, so to the labourer * In event of redundancy or downsizing, provide
is warned not to steal from work due to the a reasonable severance package. Where possible,
employer. He may not waste time a bit here take measures to assist an employee to find new
and there but is rather required to be extremely employment, offer services such as training to
careful…..Further he is required to do his work long-term workers or consider providing interest
with all his strength. - Rambam: Laws of Leasing free loans
and Hiring 13:7 * Make sure all payments, including salary and
The prohibition of “Do not go around as a expenses, are settled in good time
gossiper among your people” [Leviticus 19:16] * If appropriate, allow dismissed employees to
does not apply where the purpose is to prevent collect personal effects and to take leave of
loss - Sefer Hachinuch colleagues. Forward personal post or other
A worker is not permitted to work at night and communications to the former employee
hire himself out during the day - Code of Jewish
Law; (Civil Law) 337:19 Sources
Just as it is forbidden to wrong a colleague in Do not plot evil against your neighbour, whilst he
trade or commerce, so too, it is forbidden to dwells trusting you - Proverbs 3:29
wrong him through speech - Babylonian Talmud When you send him away to be free, do not
Tractate Baba Metziah P 58 Col 2 send him away empty-handed. You shall extend
Pay his wages when they are due - to him a grant from your flocks, from your
Deuteronomy 24:15 threshing floor, and from your wine press, with
which Hashem has blessed you - Deuteronomy
15:13&14
On leaving the workplace
The highest form of charity is to help sustain
a person before they become impoverished by
Points to consider
offering a substantial gift in a dignified manner,
Would I dissuade a friend from taking a job at this
or by extending a suitable loan, or by helping
company?
them find employment or establish themselves in
How would I like to be remembered at the place I
business so as to make it unnecessary for them to
am about to leave?
become dependent on others - Rambam, Mishna
My company or department needs to downsize,
Torah 10:7-15
who goes and who stays?
‘A good name is better than precious oil’ –
Ecclesiastes 7:1 Rashi comments: Fine oils are for
Guidelines
the moment, a good name is forever.
* Endeavour to give your employer sufficient notice
“Rabbi Shimon said, there are three crowns: the
* Make suitable arrangements to ensure an orderly
crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the
transition and, if appropriate, make yourself
crown of kingship. And the crown of a good name
available to former colleagues for advice
is superior to them all.” - Ethics of the Fathers
* Do not speak disparagingly about former
4:17
employers and/or colleagues
* Provide a fair and truthful reference for the
employee
Practical Business Ethics Seminars
High-profile speakers for business people and
professionals

JABE Generation
Events for young business people and professionals
(for 25 – 45s)

The ‘Money & Morals’ Schools Curriculum

15-lesson programme taught to 14–19 year olds in
600 schools in the UK
Business Education and Citizenship Modules

The Money & Morals Schools Roadshows

Real-life dilemmas portrayed by business people
and professional actors

Publications
Integrity magazine and educational resources

President: Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks

Vice President: Sir Trevor Chinn CVO; Chairman: Maurice Moses

Vice Chair: Rosalind Wright CB QC

Trustees: David Brecher; Julia Chain; Sidney Corob CBE; David

Dangoor; Daniel Dover; Sharon Faith; Lord Grabiner QC;
Michael Karp; Richard Loftus; Clive Marks OBE; Michael Marks
CBE; Alex Midgen; Robert Perlman; Clinton Silver CBE; Michael
Sorkin; Alan Tapnack; Michael Teacher

Executive Director: Lorraine Spector

Rabbinical Director: Rabbi David Meyer

Jewish Association for Business Ethics

2nd Floor, Mowbray House, 58-70 Edgware Way,
Edgware, Middlesex HA8 8DJ

t: (020) 8905 4048 f: (020) 8905 4658

e: info@jabe.org www.jabe.org