Ethics in The Workplace

Ethics is the hard work we do in applying our moral values to arising situations rather than just proclaiming, restating, and strengthening our moral beliefs. The first lesson of ethics is the recognition that values are not always attuned. Ethics is not a sequence of inferences, but a methodical study of principles which will allow our actions to conform to truth. Through ethics, we identify a system of values to guide our choices in order to live morally as happily as possible under the presented conditions. With advances in technology, ethics normally do not change. Ethics means doing the right thing. Every one of us was brought up knowing the difference between right and wrong. Ethics in the workplace is an issue of character and how each professional understands the words “Code of Ethics” in a professional setting.

Organizations in today’s highly aggressive business environment must develop an ethical culture to withstand the ever increasing scrutiny by consumers, legislative regulatory agencies, and competitors. In order for companies effectively to navigate through the ethical land mines, a strong system of ethics must be developed, executed and imposed. Honesty is extremely vital in all places of business.

Employers have to trust their employees to act properly. Employers must listen to all the facts. Punishment is something that no one likes, but the process can work toward the good of the organization if justice is fully sought and lessons are learned. Employees will revere their supervisors more and will likely follow their example.

Employees in my own opinion will be truly faithful when they believe their workplace has an ethical code of conduct. It is up to the leaders in workplace to ensure employees are presented with values, fairness, policies, labor practices, and truthfulness. Employees often know what is right but believe they will be penalized for reporting it, but most organizations have strong policies against retaliation against employees who report unethical business practices. This is not news to most managers as they already see the value of reducing such uncertainties in the workplace.

Business ethics should eliminate mistreatment, from the coffee serving staffs that are being ripped off in wages to the sweat shop children who are making sneakers. Business ethics can be applied to everything from cutting trees down to make the paper products that a business sells to the implications of importing coffee from certain countries. Businesses globally are appointing ethics officers to reinforce ethics within the organization, creating ethical checklists, distributing decision-making processes to employees, and producing standard operation procedures and guidelines.But does this prevent businesses from performing unethical business practices?  The answer as seen in the news today is no, however it is up to each and everyone of us to uphold ethical standards and even managers sometimes have to reminded that they too are required to abide by ethical code of conducts and are equally receptive of punishment for unethical business practices.