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Ethics in The Workplace Supplemental Self Study Presentation
Ethics in The Workplace Supplemental Self Study Presentation
Overview
Ethics in the Workplace
Introduction
The most common understanding of ethics is that it has to do with standards of right and wrong,
and how people should behave. People most often think about:
• Behaviors to engage in
• Behaviors to refrain from
• Specific values such as:
– Honesty
– Fairness
– Integrity
Ethics in the Workplace
Module 1:
What Is Business Ethics?
Ethics in the Workplace
Module 2:
How to Create an Ethical Workplace
Ethics in the Workplace
Communications
• Develop a written code of ethics.
• Distribute a copy of the code to every employee and include it with new employee
orientations.
• Make copies available to business partners and customers.
• Emphasize the code’s importance by having senior management leading communications.
• Explain how senior management/board of directors, etc. uses the code when formulating
business practices and strategies.
Ethics in the Workplace
Decision-Making Tools
Many employees will have their own ideas about what is ethical and what isn’t. In many cases,
common sense serves as the basis for making decisions. However, it is also helpful to have some
tools for employees to use when faced with an ethical dilemma. We start by offering a series of
questions to cover to guide the employee in making an ethical decision.
• What are the facts?
• Who is involved? Who will be affected by the
outcome?
• What are the underlying causes of the situation?
• What principles, values or standards should be
upheld in this situation?
• What is the best case scenario? The worst case scenario?
• What are possible options/alternatives/solutions, and the pros and cons of each? (minimizes
negative consequences and upholds values/standards)
• What is your decision and how will you explain it?
Ethics in the Workplace
Decision-Making Analysis
Once you have made your decision, it can be helpful to analyze it to make certain you are
comfortable with your decision.
• Have you defined the issue/situation/problem accurately?
• Have you considered the other side of the issue/problem?
• How did this situation occur in the first place, and how does this affect your potential
decision/action?
• What is your intention in making this decision?
• Whom could your decision/action affect or injure?
• Can you discuss the situation/problem with those
affected before you make your decision?
• Can you explain your decision/action to your boss,
family, society with no misgivings/reservations?
• Will you be as confident about your decision in a
year as you are now?
• How will your decision be perceived by others?
Ethics in the Workplace
Fairness If I were any one of the people affected by this decision, would I think it was 1 2 3 4 5
fair?
Universality How well could this decision be applicable to all similar situations? 1 2 3 4 5
Does this decision uphold the values and standards that are important to
Upholding values 1 2 3 4 5
me and my organization?
Enduring worth Will I feel as confident about this decision in a year as I do today? 1 2 3 4 5
Grandmother test Is there anything about this decision I would hesitate to tell my 1 2 3 4 5
grandmother/mother/child, etc.?
Ethics in the Workplace
Which of the following is true of creating effective guidelines for achieving an ethical workplace?
A. Keep ethics separate from annual performance appraisals so employees think about it more
than once a year.
B. Don’t involve senior management because employees are cynical about what they say.
C. Measure success based on the ability of employees to refrain from engaging in unethical
behaviors.
Module 3:
Tools to Support an Ethical Workplace
Ethics in the Workplace
An Ethics Policy
An effective ethics policy:
• Sets out an organization’s ethical values, standards, and commitments that form the
foundation for the way that it does business.
• Confirms senior management commitment to the above.
• Describes how to report a potential violation.
• Describes how this will be achieved and
monitored.
• Identifies the main ethical issues faced by the
organization and employee.
• Identifies other policies and documents that
support and detail aspects of the ethics policy -
such as a code of ethics, a bullying and
harassment policy, a gifts and hospitality policy,
an environment policy etc.
Ethics in the Workplace
Traits to Promote
• Honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness
• Responsibility and accountability
• Respect, courtesy, tolerance, and acceptance
• Justice and fairness
• Compassion, caring, kindness
• Citizenship—at work and in your community
Ethics in the Workplace
Which of the following is the most useful activity to support the full adoption and integration of a
code of ethics in your organization?
Review
Ethics in the Workplace
Amy told Nick, “I just do what my conscience tells me.” That statement reflects a mistaken
belief that business ethics is simply doing what’s right and that is has to do with your feelings
about what is right or wrong, both of which are myths.
2. What activities did the organization do that supported their code of ethics? That weakened
their code of ethics?
The organization posted a copy of the code in the break room and briefly mentioned it during
new employee orientation. Those two activities are not bad, but they are not enough to fully
integrate the code into the organization’s culture. Employees were not given their own copy
and appear to ignore the code or not take it seriously. In addition, it doesn’t appear to be
modeled by senior staff or used in annual performance appraisals, all of which undermine its
usefulness.
Ethics in the Workplace
There are two issues. The first is Judith’s choice to use her personal therapist as a consultant
whose recommendations may result in employees losing their jobs. This is potentially a
conflict of interest and/or questionable behavior. The second is Nick’s decision whether or
not to report finding Judith’s bill in the copy machine. This reflects an issue of confidentiality.
We don’t know Judith’s rationale or excuse for her choice. When Nick takes Amy’s advice to
do nothing, he accepts the excuse that “Judith may retaliate and I may get fired if I report it,”
and “Maybe it’s not really a problem.”
4. Which approach to ethical standards (Utilitarian, Fairness, Common Good, Virtue) does
Nick appear to be using to asses the situation?
Nick’s thinking was that the situation had the potential do a lot of harm; that is evidence of a
Utilitarian approach. Then he thought to himself that the situation seemed unfair; that is
evidence of a Fairness approach.
Ethics in the Workplace
Nick justified his decision by saying to himself that he didn’t have enough information. And that
may be true. However, he seems to be influenced by Amy’s advice to leave it alone for fear of
retaliation.
The alternative would have been for Nick to report what he found. If the independent committee
had walked Judith through the ethical decision making analysis questions, she might have
changed her mind about using her personal therapist and avoided the appearance (or reality) of a
conflict of interest.
Ethics in the Workplace
Congratulations!
By now you should be able to:
• Dispel common myths about business ethics.
• Describe the ideal ethical workplace.
• Implement ethics guidelines and policies in your organization.
• Identify and resolve typical ethical dilemmas.
• Recognize common excuses for unethical behavior, and what to do about them.
• Deal with unethical coworkers, customers, and vendors.
Ethics in the Workplace
Appendix
Ethics in the Workplace
References
The following resources are suggested for further information on the topics covered in this course.
Ferrell, O.C. and John Fraedrich. Business Ethics: Ethical Decision Making and Cases. South-Western College Publishing, 2006.
Fishman, Wendy, Becca Solomon, Deborah Greenspan, Howard Gardner. Making Good: How Young People Cope with Moral Dilemmas at
Work. Harvard University Press, 2004.
Shaw, William H. Business Ethics. Wadsworth Publishing, 2007.
Trevino, Linda K. and Katherine A. Nelson. Managing Business Ethics: Straight Talk About How To Do It Right. Wiley, 2006.
Ethics in the Workplace