Below are some of the Judaic References to Business Ethics and Social Responsibility.
RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYER
Paying wages on time
On the same day pay his wage, don't let the sun set on it. For he is poor and he sets his soul on it; lest he call out on you to Hashem (G-D) and it will be unto you a sin.
- Deuteronomy 24:15
Anyone who withholds the wages of a hired worker, it is as if he took away his soul.
- Babylonian Talmud Bava Metzia 112a
RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYEE
A worker is not allowed to do his own work at night and hire himself out during the day; to plow with his cow at night and rent it out during the day; he shouldn't starve or deprive himself so as to give his food to his children, for then he steals the work of the employer.
- Tosefta Bava Metzia 8:2
Discussing Ethics with students at Or Chaim High School, Toronto Ontario
Just as the employer is warned not to steal or delay the pay of the poor [worker], so is the poor [worker] warned not to steal the work of the employer, and idle a little here and a little there and passes the entire day in deceit. Rather he must be scrupulous with his time.
- Rambam (Maimonides) Laws of Hire 13:7
ACTING WITH INTEGRITY
Rava said: When a person is brought in for judgment, they say to him: Did you deal faithfully? Did you establish fixed times for Torah study? Did you involve yourself in procreation? Did you anticipate the redemption? Did you deliberate wisely? Did you infer one thing from another? Even so, if "fear of G-d is his storehouse" then [his judgment is] accepted, and if not, it is not.
- Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 31a
It is forbidden to cheat people in commerce or to mislead them, and Jews and non-Jews are considered the same in this matter. If one knows there is a defect in his merchandise he must inform the customer.
- Maimonides' Code, Laws of Sale 18:1
SENSITIVITY AND ACTING BEYOND THE LETTER OF THE LAW
Some porters broke a barrel of wine of Rabbah bar bar Chanan, so he confiscated their cloaks [as collateral]. They came before Rav [to adjudicate]. He said to him, Give them back their cloaks. He said to [Rav]: Is this the law? He said to him: Yes, "In order that you should go in the way of the good" (Proverbs 2:20). He gave them their cloaks. They said to him: We are poor, and we have exerted ourselves all day, and we are hungry, and we have nothing. He said to him: Pay them their wages. He said to him: Is this the law? He said to him: Yes, "and keep the paths of the righteous."
- Babylonian Talmud Bava Metzia 83a