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The Virtues of Relational Equality at Work

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  • Grant J. Rozeboom

    (Saint Mary’s College of California)

Abstract

How important is it for managers to have the “nice” virtues of modesty, civility, and humility? While recent scholarship has tended to focus on the organizational consequences of leaders having or lacking these traits, I want to address the prior, deeper question of whether and how these traits are intrinsically morally important. I argue that certain aspects of modesty, civility, and humility have intrinsic importance as the virtues of relational equality – the attitudes and dispositions by which we relate as moral equals. I provide a novel account of the normative grounds of the virtues of relational equality and develop a corresponding framework for how these virtues can be enacted by managers. The virtues are grounded in the value of opposing objectionable forms of social hierarchy, which requires social norms that grant all persons the same personal authority over their lives and interactions. I show how this view of virtue contrasts with prevailing Aristotelian, Personalist, and Smithian views in business ethics. I then explain how, for managers, sustaining and enacting the virtues of relational equality involves a distinctive cluster of role-specific traits: respect for employees’ equal personal authority, a commitment to express such respect, and a disposition to give equal weight and deference to employees’ relevant interests.

Suggested Citation

  • Grant J. Rozeboom, 2022. "The Virtues of Relational Equality at Work," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 307-326, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:humman:v:7:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s41463-022-00129-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s41463-022-00129-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Moore, Geoff, 2008. "Re-Imagining the Morality of Management: A Modern Virtue Ethics Approach," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(4), pages 483-511, October.
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    3. McCloskey, Deirdre Nansen, 2006. "The Bourgeois Virtues," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226556635, December.
    4. Antonio Argandona, 2015. "Humility in Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 63-71, November.
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    6. Moore, Geoff, 2005. "Humanizing Business: A Modern Virtue Ethics Approach," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 15(2), pages 237-255, April.
    7. Schmidt, Andreas T., 2017. "The Power to Nudge," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 111(2), pages 404-417, May.
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    9. A. Newman & G. Schwarz & B. Cooper & S. Sendjaya, 2017. "How Servant Leadership Influences Organizational Citizenship Behavior: The Roles of LMX, Empowerment, and Proactive Personality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 49-62, September.
    10. repec:cup:apsrev:v:111:y:2017:i:02:p:404-417_00 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Joan Fontrodona & Domènec Melé, 2022. "Thinking About the Future of work: Promoting Dignity and Human Flourishing," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 181-188, October.

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