Abstract
In a weak economy, both managers and scholars may seek an ethical framework to guide decisions about layoffs and downsizing. Agency and stakeholder theories offer limited practical guidance about ethical norms. This paper looks to the Talmud, an ancient compilation of law, legend, and critical analysis for insights into the modern employment relationship. In its method of analysis and in its specific discussion of the treatment of employees, the Talmud provides an approach and a framework for assessing the ethical standing of particular layoff decisions. The article introduces readers to elements of Talmudic analysis and then applies that framework to particular kinds of corporate downsizing decisions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Goldwurm, H. and Y. Schorr: 1994, Talmud Bavli: The Gemara: The Classic Vilna Edition, with an Annotated, Interpretive Elucidation, as an Aid to Talmud Study. ArtScroll Series, Schottenstein Edition (Mesorah Publications Ltd., Brooklyn NY).
The Soncino Talmud: 1995, CD-ROM Judaic Classics Library (Institute for Comptuers in Jewish Life & Davka Corporation and Judaica Press, Inc., Brooklyn NY).
Steinsaltz, A.: 1992, The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition (Random House, New York).
Other sources
Davis, K.: 1973, ‘The Case For and Against Business Assumption of Social Responsibilities’, Academy of Management Journal 16(2), 312–322.
Frederick, William C.: 1994, ‘From CSR1 to CSR2: The Maturing of Business and Society Thought’, Business and Society 33(2), 150–164.
Friedman, H.: 2003, ‘Creating a Company Code of Ethics: Using the Bible as a Guide’, Electronic Journal of Business Ethics and Organization Studies 8(1).
Friedman, M.: 1962, Capitalism and Freedom (University of Chicago Press, Chicago).
Friedman, M.: 1970, ‘The Social Responsibility of Business’, New York Times Magazine, Sep 13, 32–33, 123–125.
Freund, R. A.: 1990, Understanding Jewish Ethics (EMText, San Francisco).
Hopkins, W. E. and S. A. Hopkins: 1999, ‘The Ethics of Downsizing: Perceptions of Rights and Responsibilities’, Journal of Business Ethics 18(2), 145–156.
Levine, A.: 1980, Free Enterprise and Jewish Law: Aspects of Jewish Business Ethics (Ktav, New York).
Levine, A. and M. Pava, Moses (eds.): 1999, Jewish Business Ethics: The Firm and its Stakeholders (Jason Aronson, Inc., Northvale NJ).
Meir, A.: 1996, ‘Values Conflicts in Jewish Business Ethics: Social Versus Fiduciary Responsibility’, Jewish Law [Online] http://www.jlaw.com/articles/fiduciary.html.
Neusner, J.: 1984, Invitation to the Talmud (Harper & Row, San Francisco).
Pava, M. L.: 1997, Business Ethics: A Jewish Perspective (Ktav, Hoboken, NJ).
Pava, M. L.: 1998, ‘The Substance of Jewish Business Ethics’, Journal of Business Ethics 17(6), 603–617.
Pava, M. L.: 1999, ‘Moral Markets: Two Cheers for Stakeholder Theory’, in A. Levine and M. Pava (eds.), Jewish Business Ethics: The Firm and its Stakeholders (Jason Aronson, Inc., Northvale NJ).
Rosen, J.: 2000, The Talmud and the Internet: A Journey between Worlds (Farrar Strauss, New York).
Schiffman, L.: 1991, From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism (Ktav, New York).
Schnall, D. J.: 1999, ‘The Employee as Corporate Stakeholder: Exploring the Relationship between Jewish Tradition and Contemporary Business Ethics’, in A. Levine and M. Pava (eds.), Jewish Business Ethics: The Firm and its Stakeholders (Jason Aronson, Inc., Northvale NJ).
Simon, J.: 1997, ‘The Mensch of Malden Mills’, Life, May 5, 1997.
Steinsaltz, A.: 1992, The Essential Talmud (Jason Aronson, Northvale NJ).
Tamari, M.: 1987, With All Your Possessions: Jewish Ethics and Economic Life (Free Press, New York).
Tamari, M.: 2000, ‘Downsizing and Stakeholder Capitalism: A Jewish Perspective’, Darché Noam [Online]. http://www.darchenoam.org/ethics/DSZ/DMTamari.htm.
Van Buren III, H. J.: 1999, ‘Acting More Generously than the Law Requires: The Issue of Employee Layoffs in Halakhah’, Journal of Business Ethics 19(4), 335–343.
Worthy, J. C.: 1958, ‘Religion and Its Role in the World of Business’, 31(4), 293–303.
Wurzburger, W. S.: 1999, ‘Covenantal Morality in Business’, in A. Levine and M. Pava (eds.), Jewish Business Ethics: The Firm and its Stakeholders (Jason Aronson, Inc., Northvale NJ).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carver, R.H. If the River Stopped: A Talmudic Perspective on Downsizing. Journal of Business Ethics 50, 137–147 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000022149.67363.4d
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:BUSI.0000022149.67363.4d