In the past, large corporations could largely go about their
business, creating profit and satisfying their shareholders,
unhindered, but in today's world, businesses are being buffeted
by world events as never before (latterly: climate change, a global
pandemic and armed conflict). Both governments and the private
sector are increasingly expected to act in accordance with the
growing consensus, particularly in the west, about what constitutes
sound business practice in this environment. International
businesses are often now seen, not simply as wealth creators and
providers of jobs, but as 'citizens' with ethical
responsibilities. If a business wants to recruit and retain talent,
this requires more than just a good customer-facing brand.
Potential employees (especially millennials and generation Z) are
choosy about whether to associate themselves with a business. All
this means that businesses are increasingly expected to work
towards real, measurable ethical
