Latest news with #businessEthics
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Takeaway boss says he has been plagued by 'fake bad reviewers' for a year - but social media is fuming at his vicious response
The owner of a takeaway has said he has been plagued by 'fake bad reviewers' on his business - but his vicious response has caused outrage. Mumbai Kitchen, an Indian restaurant in Tiverton, Devon has been embroiled in controversy after owner Maruf Ahmed hit back at reviewers which he claims are 'fake'. After reviews slamming the restaurant's food, Mr Ahmed did not hold back, saying he hoped they would 'die in a car accident'. This has caused backlash after the comments were shared on a Facebook page with one post saying: '[The] owner of Mumbai Kitchen cannot write things like this on bad reviews, cannot take criticism clearly'. The uproar was initiated by several one-star Google reviews lambasting Mumbai Kitchen for subpar food and service. With complaints about 'smelly' meals leading to no dinner and another reviewer saying management was discourteous while resolving to never revisit. The owner then goes on to punch back and levelled accusations of dishonesty at the reviewers and issued disturbing threats. One retort stated: 'Stop giving me a fake review, or you will die in a car crash.' Mr Ahmed has now shared light on the reason for his lashing out saying it comes out of frustration as he believes the comments are being made by a rival or someone holding a grudge. 'This has been happening for a year,' he disclosed. 'Every single time, one or two were putting these negative reviews... some were from accounts that had just been created. 'I was so angry. I emailed one of them saying, 'If you're putting my business down, I hope you die in a car accident'. I felt desperate.' After the comments were shared online, some social media users slammed the owner for the 'unprofessional' response. One wrote: 'Fake reviews or not, that is not the way to respond, very unprofessional'. Another wrote: 'This has got to be fake. No restaurant owner would use this kind of response.' Despite the online onslaught, he said his reputation remains unaffected thanks to his loyal customer base, saying: 'Our regulars have been so supportive. Many came in to tell us they've never had a bad meal here.' The restaurant's defence rallied support on social media, with Facebook posts circulating in local groups. Luis Gordon, a patron, expressed his empathy: 'I'd be fairly upset if people put up fake reviews about my business. I've had over 100 meals at Mumbai Kitchen over the past ten years, and every single one has been excellent.' Ally Chaplin, another local, praised the establishment: 'They are a fantastic restaurant; we are very lucky in Tiverton to have them.' When questioned about his choice of words, Mr Ahmed explained that his intention was to deter the reviewers, hoping they would attribute any misfortune to bad luck or karma and cease their attacks. 'If I said something like that, those posting the reviews might think it was bad luck or karma and leave me alone. It came from anger. 'If I had done something wrong, that's understandable, people will be writing negative reviews, but we haven't had that.' Mr Ahmed, who has recently overseen the opening of a sister site in Taunton, added that the business was in good shape and looking forward to celebrating its first anniversary there.
Wall Street Journal
18-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Breaking Down Trump's Entanglements With Crypto
President Trump and his family's embrace of cryptocurrencies have made the sector one of the biggest winners in his second term. Critics have raised ethical concerns given Trump's vast business interests. Here's what to know about his crypto moves:
Bloomberg
09-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
DEI May Not Survive. But Shareholder Activism Will.
Business corporations are, simultaneously, the world's most wonderful organizations and the most terrifying. Wonderful because they produce an unprecedented profusion of life's necessities and luxuries. Terrifying because they are so powerful and relentless. 'Corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be condemned,' the 18th century British Lord Chancellor Edward Thurlow once remarked, 'they therefore do as they like.' How can we bring out the best in these Janus-faced creatures? One answer is to create a responsible managerial cadre through a mixture of education and professional ethics. A second is to use the government to regulate companies, and otherwise to chivy them to do the right thing. A third is to empower all the 'stakeholders' in the capitalist enterprise (workers, suppliers and shareholders) to ensure social balance.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Morality Versus Legality In Stakeholder Relations
Venkat Rao: VP and Country Head—Asia-Pac & Japan at Pitney Bowes | Stanford Seed Consultant. getty The emerging landscape of business is witnessing an increasing interplay between morality and legality, particularly within the complex context of community relationships. While legality provides the framework and guidelines, morality serves as the conscience that guides decisions beyond mere compliance. In today's hyper-connected and socially conscious world, successful businesses are the ones that acknowledge the distinction between doing things right (legality) and doing the right thing (morality). The Morality-Legality Divide In Business Legality refers to adherence to laws and regulations. These rules in black and white are defined by the government to ensure order and fair play. However, laws often lag societal expectations and ethical norms. Morality as a whole is shaped by culture, values and ethics, and it encompasses a broader and more nuanced perspective on right and wrong. Consider, for instance, the case of a multinational company that may be legally correct when it displaces a rural community to build world-class infrastructure. As legally apt as it might be, the morality can be questionable if it ignores the impact on the livelihoods, heritage and dignity of the people affected. Erosion of trust can occur due to this divide in legality versus morality, which can spark a backlash and damage the brand and the company's reputation. This can occur even if no law is broken. Why Morality Matters In Community Relationships The community is more than just a geographical area; it's an ecosystem of people, culture, values, aspirations and diverse ingredients. In short, it is a living ecosystem of people and culture. Businesses embedded in communities hold immense power to influence social, economic and environmental outcomes. I don't think the debate is essentially about whether businesses should be accountable to communities, but in what ways they can act as catalysts to uphold their moral responsibilities when laws remain silent. Morally guided behavior in community and business relationships can prove to be precursors for sustainable outcomes, including: • Trust And Loyalty: Businesses with empathy, fairness and responsibility are often more embraced by communities. • Social License To Operate: Businesses can thrive in the long term because of the approval of the local population and communities • Crisis Resilience: Strong community bonds are often the reason for companies to withstand crises of any nature: reputational, environments or political. How Stakeholders Can Create Impact Collaboration is essential to bridging the gap between legality and morality, but it can only succeed when all stakeholders—corporations, communities, governments, civil society, and individuals—are involved. Here's how each group can contribute: 1. Corporate Leadership The core strategies of leaders must embed ethical considerations. This involves: • Building charters for community engagement that goes beyond legal obligations. • Practicing transparent communication and inclusive decision-making. • Employing ethics committees to vet important decisions remain the key 2. Employees Ethical ambassadors often come from employees themselves, and a blend of advocacy and loyalty can prove to create a positive impact too. I find that a knowledge management system is critical to empowering them to recognize and act on moral issues. Make sure to create safe spaces for whistleblowing and feedback, overall ensuring that morality is part of the organizational culture. 3. Investors And Shareholders Create metrics to define how ethical practices and environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics should be blended with community practices. Investors should push companies to move beyond profit for profit's sake and instead pursue what I think of as purposeful, responsible profitability. 4. Governments And Policymakers Consulting with communities and businesses is essential to ensure laws reflect shared moral values. Offering incentives for ethical business practices, such as tax benefits or public recognition, can help establish new norms. 5. Communities Themselves Participatory governance is the key to the enforcement of laws, and communities play a vital role here. Regulatory community audits and feedback mechanisms can make businesses more accountable and attuned to local values. Conclusion While laws set the floor, morality sets the ceiling. Sustaining strong relationships in business and communities requires embedding morality—not just relying on legality. Once laws are shaped through collective consensus, upholding them becomes a shared moral responsibility. A mindset shift from compliance to conscience should be adopted when complying with laws. Overall, I find that businesses and communities thrive when they are governed by the heart rather than merely by rules. A moral compass is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. And when stakeholders come together with a shared commitment to ethical impact, they don't just build businesses—they build legacies. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
