PROFESSIONAL

CODE OF
CONDUCT/ETHICS
OF A HOUSEHOLD
WORKER
 The primary purpose of the
household work profession is to
enhance human well being and help
meet the basic human needs by
performing a variety of household
services for an individual or a family.
These household services may
include cooking, doing laundry and
ironing, food shopping, gardening,
taking care for children and/or elders,
and other household errands.
The purpose of the household
work profession is rooted in a
set of core values. These core
values, embraced by
household workers
throughout the profession’s
history, are the foundation of
household work’s unique
purpose and perspective:
 service
 dignity
 importance of human
relationships
 integrity
 competence
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
The following broad ethical
principles are based on household
work’s core values of service,
dignity, importance of human
relationships, integrity, and
competence. These principles set
forth ideals to which all household
workers should aspire.
1. SERVICE
Household workers elevate
service to others above self
interest. They draw on their
knowledge, values, and skills
to help people in need of
doing household services for
them.
2. DIGNITY
Household workers treat each
person in a caring and respectful
fashion, mindful of individual
differences and cultural and
ethnic diversity. They seek to
enhance customers’ capacity and
opportunity to address their own
needs.
3. IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS
Household workers
understand that relationships
between and among people
are an important vehicle for
efficiency. They engage
people as partners in the
helping process.
4. INTEGRITY
Household workers are continually
aware of the profession’s mission,
values, ethical principles, and ethical
standards and practice in a manner
consistent with them. They act
honestly and responsibly and
promote ethical practices on the part
of the organizations with which they
are affiliated.
 5. COMPETENCE
Household workers continually
strive to increase their
professional knowledge and
skills and to apply them in
practice. They should aspire to
contribute to the knowledge
base of the profession.