Good reputation is vital for companies, since customers and investors ought to purchase goods and do business with well-known companies. Having a bad reputation is more than notorious image, but also sales loss, or even a big chunks off its share price. For instance: Exxon’s share price plunged 20% after the Exxon Valdez oil spill incident. In addition, after the scandal of Hoi Tin Tong selling mouldy jelly with almost no turtle shell is revealed;citizens criticized the management of the company as well as claimed for refund, both of which result in stock prices decrease and sales loss.
A variety of laws were instituted by government for how companies should be run. Companies which violate laws often face large fines and other penalties. E.g.:" McDonald's legislation" A typical case of influencing the lawmakers to enact legislation in order to serve their own selfish and harm society. In 1972, the company founder, Ray Kroc, made a rare donation of 250,000 in exchange for the legislation of paying teenager employee 20% less than federal minimum wages. Later, it was classified as McDonald’s most disastrous cases of bad business ethics. Moreover, the crisis of Mattel manufacturing hazardous dolls which contained 180 times than the legal limit of lead content. Mattel have to recall it and face legal battles due to its unethical business action. These two show that companies which decide to apply unethical business actions eventually result in loss of profit. Not only do poor business ethic post harm to the companies itself, but also affect employee performance,