ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION

Work Ethics:
Work Ethics:

A group of moral A group of moral
principles, standards principles, standards
of behavior, or set of of behavior, or set of
values regarding values regarding
proper conduct in the proper conduct in the
workplace workplace
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

Relationships at Work
Relationships at Work

Management/owner Management/owner
toward toward
client/customer client/customer

Management/owner Management/owner
toward employees toward employees

Employee toward Employee toward

Employer, Co- Employer, Co-
workers, Customers workers, Customers
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

Business Abuse
Business Abuse


Any :
Any :

illegal
illegal

unethical
unethical

irresponsible Act
irresponsible Act
done against an
done against an
Employer
Employer
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

Results of Business
Results of Business
Abuse
Abuse

Higher prices
Higher prices

Business Failure
Business Failure

Fewer Jobs
Fewer Jobs

Unpleasant
Unpleasant
Working
Working
Conditions
Conditions
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
A. Examples of Business
A. Examples of Business
Abuse
Abuse
0
Stealing
Stealing

Merchandise
Merchandise

Money
Money


* Shoplift
* Shoplift
*Kickback
*Kickback


* Conflict of
* Conflict of
Interest
Interest


* Unauthorized
* Unauthorized
Discounts
Discounts

Time
Time
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
A. Examples of Business
A. Examples of Business
Abuse (Continued)
Abuse (Continued)
O
Vandalism
Vandalism
O
Falsify Records
Falsify Records
O
Break
Break
Confidentiality
Confidentiality
O
Ignore Safety
Ignore Safety
Rules
Rules
O
Misrepresent
Misrepresent
Merchandise
Merchandise
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
A. Examples of Business
A. Examples of Business
Abuse (Continued)
Abuse (Continued)
6
Poor Client
Poor Client
Service
Service
O
Irresponsible
Irresponsible
Behavior
Behavior
O
Addictions
Addictions


*
*
drugs
drugs


* alcohol
* alcohol


* tobacco
* tobacco
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
A. Examples of Business
A. Examples of Business
Abuse (Continued)
Abuse (Continued)
G
Gossip
Gossip


*
*
Causes poor
Causes poor
work
work
environment
environment
(morale)
(morale)


* Lowers
* Lowers
Productivity
Productivity


ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
11 11


Harassment of Co-
Harassment of Co-
wks or Clients
wks or Clients


*
*
Unwelcome
Unwelcome
sexual advances
sexual advances


* Compliance as
* Compliance as
condition of
condition of
employment
employment


* Interferes
* Interferes
performance
performance
through
through
intimidation
intimidation
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE

How Do We Rationalize
How Do We Rationalize
Business Abuse?
Business Abuse?
'
Everybody does it
Everybody does it
Z
The co. wont
The co. wont
miss it
miss it

The co.
The co.
overcharges
overcharges
J
Im not paid
Im not paid
enough
enough

The co. doesnt

The co. doesnt
deserve my
deserve my
loyalty
loyalty
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
C. How Employers
C. How Employers
Respond to Business
Respond to Business
Abuse
Abuse
'
Increase Security
Increase Security


*
*
loss prevention
loss prevention
mgmt.
mgmt.


* surveillance
* surveillance


*
*
Networks/Helpline
Networks/Helpline
s
s


* threats of
* threats of
prosecution
prosecution
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
C. How Employers
C. How Employers
Respond to Business
Respond to Business
Abuse (Continued)
Abuse (Continued)
Z
Increase
Increase
Employee Loyalty
Employee Loyalty


*
*
fair wages &
fair wages &
benefits
benefits


* fair/consistent
* fair/consistent
treatment
treatment


* recognition for
* recognition for
good wk
good wk


* foster family
* foster family
climate
climate
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
D. As Employees, What
D. As Employees, What
Are Our Choices?
Are Our Choices?

'
Ignore Business
Ignore Business
Abuse
Abuse
Z
Rationalize it
Rationalize it
away
away

Speak Up
Speak Up
J
Discuss to Clarify
Discuss to Clarify
Issues
Issues

Blow the Whistle!

Blow the Whistle!

ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE
E. If Youre Unsure -
E. If Youre Unsure -
Before You Act -- ASK:
Before You Act -- ASK:
'
Is this legal?
Is this legal?
Z
Is it against co.
Is it against co.
policy?
policy?

Could the action

Could the action
cause loss or
cause loss or
harm to anyone?
harm to anyone?
J
If everyone I knew
If everyone I knew
saw me, would I
saw me, would I
feel
feel
uncomfortable?
uncomfortable?