Care and Justice Orientations in Workplace Ethical Dilemmas of Women Business Owners

Abstract

In this study, the authors examine the justice and care moral orientations that women business owners employ when resolving important workplace dilemmas and the influence of material financial consequence from these dilemmas on their ethical deliberations. The findings indicate that women business owners predominantly use an ethic of justice in addressing workplace ethical dilemmas, especially when significant financial consequence to the business is perceived to stem from the workplace dilemma. Implications of the study are drawn for extant knowledge and future research on women’s use of moral orientations.