Topic No.

11: WORK ETHICS (PROFESSIONAL ETHICS)

I. Work and Property

Social life in society, economy and state is essentially determined by the conditions of work and
property. The order of work and property determines the distribution of the total product of economy.
It is therefore no surprise that social and political revolutions are most of the time inflamed by
conditions of work and property which are considered exploitative and unjust. The moral order of work
and property are the two problems which are at the root of the modern “social question”.

Two fundamentally opposed social theories have greatly influenced society and economy in the
technical age: Individualist Liberalism and Marxist Socialism. The theory of Liberalism centers in the
demand of the greatest possible economic freedom of the individual. Free enterprise, free competition,
free trade are its slogans. The law of supply and demand ought to regulate the entire economic process
and also the employment and compensation of workers. The freedom for economic enterprise
combined with sound self-interest are held to be best conditions for progress and prosperity. The result
is liberalist capitalism with the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few and extensive poverty
among the masses.

The theory of Marxist socialism, on the other hand, can be summed up in the demand that private
property must be abolished. All property is to be transferred into the hands of the state, thus, creating a
classless, socialist society with equal prosperity for all. Combined with this theory is the doctrine of the
struggle of the classes. The two classes of capitalist owners and the propertyless masses are
irreconcilably opposed. The struggle, by an intrinsic necessity, leads to the elimination of the few
capitalists and the nationalization of all property. The philosophical frame of the theory is, at least de
facto, an atheistic determinism. The practical result of the ideology is Marxist collectivism with the
concentration of power in the hands of a totalitarian state and masses deprived not only of the right to
property but other basic human rights as well.

Moral institutions like the Catholic Church is not in favour to both systems. They build upon the
concepts of man which are deficient and wrong. Consequently, their theories of the social order are
deficient and wrong as well. The fundamental fallacy of individualist liberalism is its evaluation of human
work as merely an impersonal commodity and the disregard for the social character of economic life.
the principal error of Marxist socialism is its global rejection of private property and the inability to
understand the positive function of personal ownership for society and the economic process.

II. The Moral Order of Work

Work is attached to the nature of the human being. Human survival is always associated with work.
Both science and theology take work as a significant part of human development. In the scientific
account, humans hunt in order to survive. Theologically, work was designated as a form of punishment
by God to man as a consequence of his first sin – “man shall not eat unless he sweats.” In both accounts,
work is regarded as a cardinal element of human survival. Human life is divided between the time given
to leisure and the time given to work. Both work and leisure seem to be required for a full human life. A
way of life in which a person works seven days a week and has no time for leisure strikes us as being
inhuman. Conversely, a way of life where a person does not work at all and spends all of his time at play
strikes us as being a wasted human life, one that lacks something essential. Work as well as play needs
to be there in human life for that life to be truly human.

Every human being is called to serve God by his work. This is one of his or her basic duties. Work is
also the primary title by which he takes possession of things and acquires the right to own them. Work,
whether manual or intellectual, is furthermore the most decisive factor in the economic process; every
economic process takes its origin in every human being’s work.

III. The Moral Duties in Work and Profession

1. The Duty to Work

The purpose and meaning of work as explained above also contains the reasons for the duty
to work. Work is the normal way to self-preservation. It is ordinarily by his work that a person
satisfies his material needs and the needs of those entrusted to him. To the extent that a man is
able to work and has no other legitimate source for his sustenance, he must acquire what is
necessary for his livelihood by his labor.

The Christian doctrine of work emphasizes “every man’s duty to labor faithfully” (Gaudium
et Spes, 67). For every man is called to serve his fellowmen and to cooperate with God in the
unfolding of his creation, naturally to the extent that he is able to do so.

2. The duty to conscientious preparation for one’s profession

The significance and purpose of work further demands that a person chooses his profession
responsibly and prepares himself conscientiously for it.

The responsible choice of a profession requires above all the sober, realistic assessment of
one’s talents and capabilities. One is allowed only to choose a profession with those demands
one is capable to comply sufficiently. And one should choose only that profession where he
believes that he can serve God, himself and his fellowmen best. Of course, the circumstances
restrict the freedom of choice of a profession at times considerably. In these instances, a
person’s responsibility consists in the acceptance of the concretely possible profession with the
determination to dedicate himself to it the best of his abilities.

Having made the choice of a profession, a person is morally obliged to prepare himself for it
conscientiously. Negligent preparation is a sin against God, his fellowmen and himself.
Negligence in the acquisition of the necessary skills which results in serious harm to others, as
for example in the professions of pilots, drivers, physicians, lawyers, politicians, priests, is a very
grave irresponsibility.

If the practice of a profession is bound to certain certificates of a person’s proficiency and

competence, he has the grave obligation to acquire them honestly and without fraudulence.
Besides, honesty and conscientiousness, diligence and perseverance in the preparation for
one’s profession are rather sure signs for the sterling quality and reliability in the future
practice of the profession.

3. Duties in the practice of the profession

Every worker or professional is obliged to render the services conscientiously which he

agreed to perform and for which he is paid. He who performs his work badly, who does not
comply with his obligations, or who conducts his job carelessly or recklessly, commits injustice.
He is obliged to restitution.

The service relationship not seldom establishes moral obligations of a more personal
nature, such as loyalty, respect, discretion. This holds in a special way for domestic employees.
Personal concern and secrecy are particular duties of priests, physicians, psychotherapists,
counsellors, lawyers, and similar professions.

IV. The Concept of Work Ethics

There are so many definitions attached to “work ethics”. If we were going to use a simple definition
for work ethics, we could go with the one describing it as a set of moral principles that an employee uses
in the performance of his job.

Another business definition describes work ethic as “the belief in the moral benefit and importance
of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character.”

Basically, work ethic can refer to how you feel about your job or career, so it covers your attitude and
behavior. It also pertains to how you do your job, or the responsibilities that come attached with it. The
level of respect you show your co-workers and people you come into contact with at work, and how you
communicate and interact with them, also defines your work ethics.

From that definition, we can also surmise that work ethics is also used to refer to key characteristics
that you should have, and they include honesty, integrity, humility and accountability, among others.
These traits or characteristics will dictate how you will react or do in a certain situation, or when you are
faced with a particular circumstance. How you respond will reveal the kind of work ethic that you have.

Obviously, work ethics is important in defining your identity. It becomes part of who you are, and
there is no doubt that a huge part of how people will view and know you will come from what they
perceive to be your work ethics.

Why is it so important to have a good and strong work ethics? Ultimately, it will show the strength of
your character and present you as an all-around positive person. In the workplace, this will be to your
advantage. If you are looked at favorably by your co-workers and superiors, you’d have better chances
at advancing your career. You’d be viewed as someone who can interact with, and even lead, other
people very well. This show of leadership will increase your chances of rising up the ranks of the
organization.

From the point of view of the organization, it will be to its benefit to have employees with solid work
ethics, because their traits and personalities will contribute to the attainment of the vision and goals of
the organization.
 Work ethics, on its own, is not going to be of any use to any organizational setup, though. If you want
to become effective as a contributing member of the organization, then you should have a good and
strong work ethics. Then, and only then, can you hope to be viewed and recognized favorably by your
employer.

V. Six Key Factors of an Effective Work Ethics

1. Integrity

Integrity should permeate every aspect of your job, from how you deal with your clients to how you
treat your co-workers and your superiors. It means doing the right things, at all times, even if no one is
watching, much less your boss. Its greatest impact is seen in your relationships with the people around
you, which is why integrity is seen as one of the most important ingredients of Trust.

According to Robert Shaw, you can earn a certain level of trust if you are able to achieve results
while demonstrating concern for others and acting with integrity the whole time. Hence, the formula:

Results + Integrity + Concern = Level of Trust

Acting with integrity, in this context, also means behaving in a consistent manner. For example, if
you are part of a team, your behavior should be in tune with everyone, in accordance with a clear set of
guidelines in working together toward a clear purpose.

2. Emphasis on Quality of Work

If you show dedication and commitment to coming up with very good results in your work, then
your work ethics will definitely shine. While some employees do only the barest minimum, or what is
expected of them, there are those who go beyond that.

They do more, they perform better, and they definitely go the extra mile to come up with results
that surpass expectations. Clearly, these employees are those who belong to the group with a solid work
ethic.

3. Professionalism

The word “professionalism” is often seen as something that is too broad or wide in scope, covering
everything from your appearance to how you conduct yourself in the presence of other people.

It is so broad and seemingly all-encompassing that many even go so far as to say that professionalism
equates having a solid work ethics.

4. Discipline

Work ethic is something that emanates from within. You can tell an employee to do this and that, be
like this and like that, over and over, but if they do not have enough discipline to adhere to the rules and
follow through with their performance, then there is no way that they can become the productive
employees that the company wants.

Discipline involves focus, dedication and determination on your part to do what you should.
 5. Sense of Responsibility

The moment you became part of the organization and assigned tasks and duties, you have a
responsibility that you must fulfill. If you have a strong work ethic, you will be concerned with ensuring
that you are able to fulfill your duties and responsibilities. You will also feel inclined to do your best if
you want to get the best results.

6. Sense of Teamwork

As an employee, you are part of an organization. You are simply one part of a whole, which means
you have to work with other people. If you are unable to do so, this will put your work ethic into
question.

Work ethic is also continuously shaped by relationships, specifically on how you are able to handle
them in achieving goals, whether shared or individual.

VI. How to Demonstrate a Strong Work Ethics to Your Employer

It is one thing to proudly declare that you have a strong work ethic to your boss, but it is another
totally different thing to convince him that you really do. In fact, bosses are not inclined to take such
claims at face value, instead wanting you to convince them with actions and not just words.

So, what are the things that you can do in order to convince your employer that you have a strong
work ethic as you claim?

1. Put the company first.

Trying to demonstrate a good work ethic if you don’t actually care about the company will be acting,
and no matter how good of an actor you are, it won’t be long before you are discovered. You need to
actually have the good work ethic before you try to show it to the world.

And this starts with putting the company first in your thoughts and actions. Once this is done, half the
battle is won.

2. Manage your time wisely.

Time management is not limited to being on time for work and meeting deadlines. It actually involves
more than that.

Be punctual. They say that punctuality is one of the first indicators of professionalism. There are
several reasons why punctuality is very important. Important points were made on how punctuality
strengthens and reveals your integrity while also demonstrating your level of discipline, humility and
dependability. It is also one way to show your respect for others, while allowing you to build your self-
confidence and always put your best foot forward. For many managers and supervisors, lack of
punctuality is a deal-breaker. If a new employee is habitually tardy in coming to work, this is likely to
drive them to have a low opinion of the capabilities of that employee to continue working in the
company.

Maintain a good attendance record. It’s not just your punctuality and how you observe work hours
that will be closely looked into. A high rate of absenteeism certainly does not bode well, even if it is
unintentional or there are unavoidable circumstances, such as if you are frequently ill that you have to
take days off from work. If this is the case, it is important to take up the matter with your superiors in
order for both parties to come up with a solution that will benefit everyone. If there are truly
unavoidable circumstances causing you to miss work, bringing it up before you are confronted shows
that indeed you are concerned about the company and it makes your bosses more open to suggestions
that you might have. An example would be allowing you to work remotely from home. Your bosses will
know if you are taking a day off work to avoid performing a particularly rigorous or complicated task.
This will not reflect positively on you, and any chance you might have of getting a raise or a promotion
won’t look too good.

Observe deadlines. Between an employee who barely beats the deadline, rushing at the eleventh
hour to get things done and finishing his task just as the clock hits 12, so to speak, and an employee who
finishes his task well ahead of time, without any rushing and stressing out, who will be more favorable in
the eyes of the supervisor? Obviously, it is the second employee.

If you are able to finish your task ahead of time, that means you are able to manage your time wisely.
That will also give you ample time to make any adjustments, if necessary, since there is still some time
left before the actual deadline. Better yet, you should take the initiative to set your own deadlines.

If there is a timetable provided by the company, it will be to your advantage to create your own
timetable. This will enable you to prioritize better. You’ll be able to avoid distractions easily, and any
potential delays will be dealt with before they can actually arise.

3. Be honest.

Although the phrase may seem a bit of a cliché nowadays, there is still truth to the adage “Honesty is
the best policy”. The esteemed Warren Buffet said it best when he cited three qualities to look for when
hiring new people: integrity, intelligence and energy. There is no way that a person can hide his
dishonesty forever. Sooner or later, it will manifest itself, and that will not do your work ethic any favors.

The biggest problem that a dishonest employee will encounter is the lack or absence of trust from
other people. Therefore, if you want to go far in your career, or go up the hierarchy in the organization,
then you should make it a point to be honest in your dealings so that you can be trusted by your seniors
and fellow colleagues.

Since we are on the topic of honesty, other things that you can do are:

Give honest feedback. This shows that you are capable of objectivity. Managers, co-workers and even
clients will value you more if you show that you are able to provide honest feedback. Sure, this may be a
sensitive area, which is why you have to take extra care on your delivery of your feedback. If you are
able to get your message across without openly offending anyone and igniting hostilities, then that will
prove even further the strength of your work ethic.
 Own up to your mistakes. If you did something wrong, it is best to man up and own up to it, instead
of denying all blame and, worse, pinning it on other people. This is a sign that you are unable and
unwilling to take responsibility, a sure sign that your work ethic is less than solid.

4. Maintain a balanced and consistent performance in performing your work.

An employee with a strong work ethic is a productive employee. This productivity is seen in the pace
of work and your persistence in maintaining that pace. If you can work at a fast pace, that means you’ll
be able to accomplish more within the limited time that you are given. You are not the type to give up
just because you are exhausted, or you suddenly feel lazy. You do not quit until you have completed
what you have started.

As an employee or worker, your main concern is to perform your core functions, or the tasks and
duties that are in your job description. Therefore, that is the first thing that you should focus on. It
doesn’t make a whole lot of sense if you score high in punctuality and have a perfect attendance record,
but you’re only churning out what is needed, instead of producing great work.

Do quality work. Employers want employees who care about the quality of the work that they churn
out, going a step above and beyond the minimum of expectations with regard to the quality of their
work. An employee who is committed to quality in his own work is an employee worth keeping because,
at the end of the day, his work will form part of the overall quality of the output of the organization.

Be organized. A disorganized employee is seen as someone who may have trouble meeting deadlines
and producing quality work. It’s similar to how your personality is often judged by your personal
hygiene. If you have dirty nails or unkempt hair, you’d be immediately judged – especially by those you
are meeting for the first time – to have problems keeping things together. It’s the same thing if you are
disorganized, say, in how you maintain your work area. If you are working with tools and machines,
leaving them lying around may even result to accidents and injuries. Being organized shows how you are
able to prioritize and will also provide an indication of how you can contribute to the achievement of the
goals and objectives of the company.

Be consistent. You have to continue working at your peak, getting the best results, even when no one
is watching. Some employees, in their desire to impress their bosses, will only visibly put in more work if
they know they are being watched. This is not how you demonstrate a strong work ethic. On the
contrary, it will only paint you as pretentious, which is one of the worst things that can taint your work
ethic.

It is “do, not say”, and “act, not tell”. At the end of the day, it is your output and your work that will
speak the loudest volume about your work ethic. Show great results, and you’ll be seen as someone
with a great work ethic.

5. Always show respect.

Respectfulness is, sadly, becoming more of a rare commodity these days. But it remains to be one of
the traits that supervisors are looking for to indicate whether an employee has a strong work ethic or
not.
 Using proper etiquette is basic for humans, which is why it is valued greatly in the workplace. Even a
slightest shift away from proper etiquette can potentially destroy a relationship that has been cultivated
and nurtured for a very long time.

What if you are under too much pressure? Does that not give you a bit of a leeway, so you can use it
as an excuse to be rude or let your temper fly?

In the workplace, there should be no excuse to be disrespectful to other people, whether it is with a
peer or a subordinate. Tight deadlines? Impossible demands from impossible clients? They’re part and
parcel of a regular “day at the workplace”. Therefore, you should not let your temper get the better of
you.

Stay calm and poised. Good and rational decisions are harder to come by if anger is clouding your
judgment. If you show that you are frazzled, this will also fluster the others, and soon you’ll be dealing
with a roomful of panicking and co-workers.
Be diplomatic. Choose your words carefully and be careful not to offend others. Even a misplaced word
here and there can potentially lead to a blowout, which you’d definitely want to avoid as much as
possible.

Listen to others’ opinions. Even if you might not 100% agree with them in the end, giving them time
to voice out their opinions and listening to them is already a sign of respect. Besides, you may just find
solutions in those opinions.

Avoid gossiping and harmful talk about, and against, others. Idle chit-chat is unavoidable at the
workplace, but there is a difference between chatting idly about this and that and gossiping maliciously
about other people. This can potentially blow up and lead to conflicts and even bigger problems.
Negative talks will definitely affect teamwork if it’s not avoided.

Show fair treatment to others. If you are in a supervisory position, you might not be aware that you
are favoring one worker over the others. If you are dealing with clients, you might be showing a bias
toward one client while acting passively toward others. This inequity is an indication that you may have
a skewed judgment, especially when it comes to dealing with bigger issues.

Demonstrate grace under pressure, and you can definitely convince your boss that you have a work
ethic strong enough to merit further notice during promotions to higher positions.

6. Follow the rules.

If you can’t follow even one simple rule, such as keeping your work area neat and orderly, or properly
clocking in when you get to work, your boss is likely to take that as a sign that you’d find it even more
difficult to keep the rules that do matter.

How can you show that you are a law-abiding employee?

Be aware of company policies. There’s bound to be an employee handbook or company manual that
covers policies, rules and regulations that employees must abide by. Make it a point to read through it
and know the finer points, because you certainly cannot argue ignorance if, at some point, you are
called out for violating a company rule. Making the effort to learn about these policies and regulations
will also put you in a positive light. Your boss will see this as a sign of commitment on your part about
wanting to do good in your work while sticking to the rules.

Follow the dress code. This is another key characteristic of professionalism. Appearance may not be
all that matters in the workplace, but it DOES matter to a certain extent, regardless of the actual work
that you do. Even laborers and those who are doing manual labor have a prescribed dress code that they
must adhere to, not just for purposes of safety at the workplace, but also as a member of the
organization. As employees and workers, they are still representatives of the organization, and if you are
able to dress properly, this will reflect positively to the organization.

7. Work with others.

No matter how much you think you are better at working alone, or that you can provide more and
better results if you work by yourself, the very nature of being an employee of a company means that
you are merely one of the cogs in a larger machine. Therefore, you have to work with the other
employees.

Cooperate. Cooperation is very important. Even if you have personal differences in opinion with a co-
worker, or you do not see eye to eye about a matter entirely separate from work, you should still be
able to cooperate and work together with him. Set aside those differences, at least for the time being.
Your boss will appreciate you more if you are able to prove that you can separate the personal from
work and still be able to cooperate with others.

Socialize. Yes, you read that right. Socialization is also very important. You can’t be all work and
serious talk all the time. Once in a while, you have to take a step back, relax, and socialize with your co-
workers. This is one way to cultivate your social skills while strengthening your relationship with the
other employees or members of the team.
8. Stay fit and healthy.

Believe it or not, being sound and healthy in mind and body also contributes to your work ethics. The
reason is, if you are healthy, you’ll be able to think more clearly, so you can make better decisions and
exercise better judgment when doing your work. Being healthy also ensures that you won’t have a
problem with your attendance record. You’d be able to report to work on time, and absenteeism won’t
be an issue.

In the same manner, if you are fit and healthy, you won’t have problems socializing with your co-
workers. You will also be in a positive mood, so tempers and frustrations will not get in the way.

Therefore, make it a point to exercise regularly. Eat your meals properly and maintain a balanced
diet. Get out for some air once in a while. If you have vacation days, make the most of them, so you can
rest your mind and body. If you’re the type to enjoy the great outdoors and commune with nature,
make it a point to do that whenever you have the opportunity to do so. This will refresh and strengthen
you for when you go back to work and carry on with your tasks and responsibilities.

If you think about it, these things are not all that difficult to do. In fact, they are relatively easy. It is
the execution that most people find complicated. Still, it is a fact that building and maintaining a strong
work ethic is not a walk in the park. It takes a lot for a person to prove that he has one, but if you are
committed and dedicated enough, then you will no doubt be able to convince your bosses that your
work ethic is one of the things that make you an asset of the company.