True or false: Any action taken by a manager that is within the bounds of the law is, by definition, an ethical action.

Analysis of the Statement

1. Understanding Ethics and Law
   Ethics and law serve as guidelines for behavior in society, but they are not necessarily the same. Laws are formal rules enacted by governments that everyone is required to follow, while ethics pertain to moral principles that govern a person's behavior or the conducting of an activity.

2. Determining the Implications
   The statement suggests that all lawful actions by a manager are ethical. This is not always true, as certain actions can be legal but still unethical. For example, exploiting loopholes in labor laws may be legal, but it could still violate ethical principles of fairness and respect for employees.

3. Evaluating Examples
   Consider actions such as:

   • Bringing employment practices to the legal limit: A manager could choose to pay the minimum wage, which is legal but may be viewed as unethical if it does not support a living wage for employees.
   • Environmental regulations: Following the minimum environmental standards might be legal, but this could be considered unethical in light of broader responsibilities to protect the environment.

4. Conclusion
   Therefore, while legal actions typically adhere to established laws, they do not inherently account for ethical considerations.

Final Answer

False: Not all actions taken by a manager that are within the bounds of the law are ethical, as legal actions can sometimes violate ethical standards.