Workplace ethics
A work ethic is a set of established standards based on core values such as honesty, respect, and trust. Having a good work ethic can help an employee be se-ected for a promotion, with more responsibility and higher pay (Figure 3-3). An employee who does not exhibit a good work ethic is regarded as failing to pro- vide good value for the pay, and this will not lead to
promotions. Employees who demonstrate a poor work ethic are often the first to be let go.
Workplace ethics serve as moral guidelines that are specific to the work environment. Knowing proper workplace ethics and following them in the workplace contributes to an individual’s value as an employee, which leads to the longevity of a business.
Employee workplace ethics cover a variety of personal values, all of which an employer should be aware of. Some of the ethical issues that employers and employees alike should consider include these:
● Behavior: Do not engage in abusive behavior such as bullying other employees, displaying pornography in their work space or on computer screens, stealing from other employees or the employer, or telling inappropriate or of- fensive jokes, which is strictly forbidden in the workplace.
● Fairness: Refrain from cheating by sneaking around and hiding the real reasons for coming to work late or being absent.
● Confidentiality: Refrain from gossip about fellow employees’ private issues.
● Honesty: Know the difference between what is right and wrong and how to deal with situations that provide opportunities to be dishonest.
● Initiative: Accomplish tasks without being told, finding out what is needed and continuing tasks when the going gets tough.
Integrity: Have the courage to do what is right de- spite popular opinion.
● Reliability: Know how to accomplish an assigned task correctly and in a timely manner, without con- stant supervision.
● Self-control: Prevent a difficult situation from growing into a conflict that disrupts workflow.
● Self-starting: Take action on tasks without waiting to be told what to do.
● Credit: Avoid taking undue credit for work that another employee actually performed.
● Working with others: Treat all clients and customers fairly and honestly in all situations.
Ethics programs are offered by employers and are intended to affect how people think about and address ethical issues that arise on the job. An employer’s established ethical guidelines benefit the company by steering employees away from any ethical risk-taking situations to a more appropriate and productive type of action. An ethics program allows employees to be sensitive to ethical issues on the job.
Here are some potential benefits from an effective ethics program:
● Aligns the workforce with the employer’s mission and vision
● Provides guidance and resources for employees making difficult decisions
● Creates a productive working environment
● Helps in hiring and keeping highly skilled employees
Employees who work for an employer with an ethics program and see their supervisors modeling ethical behavior, and who see honesty, respect, and trust applied in the workplace, generally report the following:
● Greater overall satisfaction with their employer
● The feeling of being valued by their employer
● Feeling less pressured to compromise ethic standards
● Belief that there is less misconduct in the workplace
● A willingness to report any misconduct
● Satisfaction with responses to misconduct being reported
Most supervisors agree that high ethical standards are important in the workplace. A good work ethic provides a natural desire to get the work done.
Questions
1. What is a work ethic?
2. What are work ethics based on?
3. list the steps for building key habits into good work ethics.
4. How does a work ethic program transfer to employees?
5. What does good work ethics promote?