Multinational companies operating in countries where ethical standards vary considerably from country to country quickly fine themselves on a slippery slope with no locally credible guiding moral authority if they insist on having single companywide code of ethical standards that applies to all comparly personnel in all countries where the company operates. that forbid the payment of bribes and kickbacks in their codes of ethical conduct and that are serious about enforcing this prohibition are acting in accord with the principles of the school of ethical universalism and are rejecting the principles underlying the school of ethical relativism. that wish to be respectful of local customs and ethical standards should give company personnel sufficient wiggle room to pay bribes and kickbacks in those countries where the payment of bribes and kickbacks are customary and to forbid the payment of bribes and kickbacks in those countries where they are considered unethical or illegal. are well advised to rely upon the principle of ethical relativism fofigguidance in how to conduct their activities because it is far more sensible for a multinational company to take the position that it is ethically okay for company personnel to pay bribes and kickbacks in countries where such payments are customary but that it is not ethically permissible for company personnel to pay bribes and kickbacks in those countries where bribes and kickbacks are considered unethical or illegal. face a real dilemma in basing their standards of what is ethical and what is unethical on the principle of ethical universalism because it is much better and easier for them to operate with multiple sets of ethical standards (sometimes one for each country, so as to be respectful and accommodative of local customs and traditions)