Deontological theories provides the best framework for a general approach for avoiding certain ethical issues within a business. Deontological theories are defined as focusing on the rights of all individuals and the intentions of the person performing the action. Deontological theories differ quite a bit from utilitarian views on ethics and would not allow, the harming of some individuals in order to help other individuals. To the deontologist each person must be treated with the same level of respect and no one should be treated as a means to an end.

Deontology suggests that the principles of ethics are permanent and unchanging and that the obligation to following these principles is at the heart of ethical behavior. Many deontologists believe that the rights of an individual are grounded in what they call, "natural law". Deontology is the product of Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher. In a short definition, Deontology is the ethical theory that is concerned with duties and rights.

In business, employees who showcase a duty based, or deontological based, ethic usually justify their actions and behaviors in terms of honoring company policy or in terms of satisfying their customers. Although there are more than a handful of major ethical paradigms, the deontological, duty based, approach emphasizes that the satisfaction of expectations as the major force to their actions and behavior; It is just what they have to do.

In general, deontology focuses on the act and not the act's result or consequence. The morally binding nature of a deontological standard comes from the persons obligation to perform some act in a specific manner. This can sometimes be voluntarily and sometimes not. Duty based approaches are heavy on obligation, in the sense that a person who follows this ethical theory believes that the highest virtue comes from doing what you are supposed to do. This thinking comes from the idea that it is something you have to do, such as following the law, or because you have agreed to do it, such as following an employer's policies. It matters little whether the act leads to positive or negative consequences. Instead what matters is you are doing your duty.

Although no one person perfectly locks into a single ethical theory or profile and every person is a unique human being and not a textbook case, it is possible to come up with some general statements and ideas about how a deontologist functions in the workplace more effectively than other ethical theories. An employee who feels very strongly and follows a duty based ethic, usually comes off as an "inside the box" thinker. This employee will do what his boss told him to do, because he is required to honor his boss's directions. Even if the employee recognizes that the boss's commands are irrational or counterproductive, he will still comply. He will also be aware and conscientious about details, usually following a strict or pre set procedure through to completion without finding and taking shortcuts, because he believes that is what the company expects of him.

We should consider an accounts payable clerk. This person is responsible for reviewing invoices and financial reports, such as expense reports, to ensure that they follow and conform to policy and then issuing prompt payment. If the company policy required original receipts to justify the items on the expense report, and the employee submitted only photocopies, a clerk with a deontological ethic may decline the report and require the originals to be re submitted. This clerk behaves in this manner because he believes that he has a duty to follow the full and literal policy that the employer has provided to him. He follows this ethic whether the need for originals instead of copies made any difference in the end results. This accounts payable clerk could have saved the company from paying out more than was necessary thus saving the company money.

Another example would be a manager of a retail store faced with a return. If the manager of a retail store with a posted merchandise return policy may choose to honor the policy or to make exceptions, depending on the circumstances of a particular return. Managers with a strong deontological ethic, will typically hold closely to the literal text of the policy and make fewer exceptions, because he views upholding the employer's policy as their job. They know that the policy is in place for a reason and that it must be followed.

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