Q: Why do ethics matter in business?
A: Trust is the backbone for any relationship, not just in business. The key way to build trust is through behaving ethically. This means doing the right thing for our customers and for each other, even though sometimes this can be difficult. Trust is something that takes time to build up, so we need to always hold ourselves accountable.
Q: EO Johnson originally began as a solo operation with your father E.O. Johnson and has since expanded. Did his experiences influence you and your perspective on business?
A: Yes, I would have to say growing up and watching how my father went about doing business influenced me a great deal. When you are a child, you are influenced by the way your parents treat others. As a business-owner, he held himself to high ethical standards. Who he was never changed – the person E.O. was at work, in the community or at home stayed the same. Both of my parents believed in the value of treating others with respect. So growing up in this environment made it natural for me to incorporate ethics into how I live my life.
Q: Recently, EO Johnson won the Wisconsin BBB Torch Award for Ethics. What does this award mean to you and to EO Johnson as a company?
A: When we won the Torch Award, it was truly an honor. While our company does work hard to be a productive business and build an ethical culture, this award was a surprise and deeply touched my heart. Ethics are engrained in my life and are highly regarded in our company, but the idea of receiving an award for it never entered my thoughts. Ethical behavior at EO Johnson is what we do every day and is so critical to our success.
Q: Since EO Johnson has recently been recognized for ethics, can you share advice on how businesses can promote this in the workplace?
A: Ethics starts from leadership – management needs to make sure they behave this way in addition to making sure the company keeps its sense of integrity. It is great to have values statements hanging on the walls of a business, but it is something completely different to actually carry out the words every day. If there is a disconnect between the values a business says they stand for and how people act, then a strong, trusting relationship will be difficult, if not impossible, to attain.