Presentation do you mind?

Work Ethic Module

EICC Logistics Technician Program Jul 2008

Objectives
Define work ethic and ethical decision making. Examine values most sought by employers. Assess personal values. Identify areas in need of improvement. Design an action plan to improve identified areas. Reflect on working values and preferences.
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Why Do We Talk About This?

From an employee/personal point of view
Insufficient foundational skills

Low L Work Ethic

Difficulty finding and/or holding a good job

Low skills = Low wages = Lower Quality of Life

Work Ethic = Responsible Workplace Behavior

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Why Do We Talk About This?

From a management point of view Less Productivity Low Work Ethic Less Quality $$$ Loss Customer Satisfaction Suffers

Work Ethic = Healthy and Prosperous Business

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Before We Continue
Ethics is a hard topic but important to explore. We encourage you to relate your own experiences or cases with which you are familiar. We request that you keep everything you hear confidential. No external judging of shared experiences is allowed. We want you to reflect and learn from life experiences.

Brainstorm

What is Work Ethic ? What does Work Ethic involve?

Work Ethic Definition

Ethic: A code of principles and values which guide our choices and actions, and determine the purpose and course of our lives.
Source: Character at Work Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

Work ethic is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence work ethic may include being reliable, having initiative or maintaining social skills.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_ethic

Work Ethic
All of us can, in one way or another, differentiate right from wrong in most situations

but ethics is about character and moral courage and how we meet the challenge when doing the right thing will cost us more than we want to pay.

Work Ethic Personal Journal

Exercise # 1

Identify situations in your past where it was hard to do the right thing. (work-related or not)

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Work Ethic

Ethics

Standards of conduct

How one should behave is based upon: Moral Duties Obligations Virtues

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Brainstorm

What are some examples of our moral duties and obligations ?

How do we relate our moral duties and obligations to standards of conduct?

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Work Ethic Ethics is an action concept, not just a philosophical theory Is vs. Ought Consequential vs. Inconsequential

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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Exercise # 2

Identify someone you know whom you admire for their work habits and think what makes them an example

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If You Want Share Your Appreciation

Its always nice to let others know when they are doing things right ! Nice surprise !

Source: http://cbs13.com/watercooler/safe.drivers.sacramento.2.612778.html

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Work Ethic and Good Working Values

Graphic of steps to make ethical decisions

WORK

ETHIC

Principles of Character
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Josephson's Six Pillars of Character

Caring Citizenship Fairness Respect Responsibility Trustworthiness

Source: Character at Work Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Adapted from Josephsons Model for Making Ethical Decisions.

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Work Ethic

Lets watch the Thank You for Smoking movie trailer

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thankyouforsmoking/trailer/

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Work Ethic
When what is good for some, is bad for others

We need to
Make ethical decisions !
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Brainstorm

How do I make an ethical decision ? What should I consider when making an ethical decision?
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Ethical Decisions

Ethical dilemma
Choices

1. Interest of all stakeholders 2. Ethical > Non-ethical 3. Greatest balance of good in the long run

Principles Ethical Decision

Ethical principles are the ground rules of decision making not just factors to consider

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Ethical Decisions

It is OK to lose in fact, it is better to lose than to lie, steal or cheat in order to win. People who are unwilling to lose have to be willing to do whatever it takes to win.
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Ethical Decisions One Approach to Making Ethical Decisions

Identify
Clarify the problem

Evaluate
Ethical principles at risk? Facts vs. Beliefs/ Wants

Decide
Identify truth Ponder consequences Decide what to do

Implement
Plan how to implement the decision Act

Monitor & Modify

Follow up Follow through

Source: Character at Work Course Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Exercise # 3

Lets consider a case that requires make an ethical decision.

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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Case # 1
Your elderly grandparents have asked you to visit them over the holidays. (You are away at school.) You have already signed up to work. The business offers double-time pay when you work holidays. Some of your friends who are visiting from out of town are planning great y g p gg parties for Friday and Saturday. Your parents (who know about work, but not about the parties) advise you to, Do what you think is best. You know that they really want you to spend time with your grandparents. What do you do?
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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Case # 2
You work in the administration office of a large company. You type a confidential memo for your supervisor, listing the names of ten people who will be laid off involuntarily in about one month. Your close friend Morgans name is on the list. That Th evening, M i Morgan stops b to see you and shares that h by d h h her family has finally found the home of their dreams. With both her and her husband working, they can afford the house payment, even though money will be tight. Do you tell Morgan about the lay off?
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Work Ethic and Good Working Values

Graphic of steps to make ethical decisions

WORK

ETHIC

Principles of Character P i i l f Ch Working Values

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Work Ethic and Good Working Values

Graphic of steps to WORK ETHIC make ethical decisions YOU and YOUR CAREER

Principles of Character Working Values

p Workplace Behavior
(Your Actions and Decisions)

Affect Aff t s
THE COMPANY and ITS REPUTATION

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Working Values Wanted by Employers

Work Hard Work Smart Dependable and Responsible Positive Attitude Good teammate Adaptable Honesty and Integrity Self Motivated Motivated to grow and learn Self confidence Professionalism
Source: Attributes Employers Value Most in Candidates. Engineers Week, February 17-23, 2007.

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Brainstorm

As a group lets define these g working values and share the findings

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Brainstorm

What other factors can affect our perception of ethics and values ?

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Ethical Behavior
Ethical principles may also relate to the morals valued by our

Culture Family a y Spiritual and religious beliefs Neighborhoods and communities

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Ethical Behavior
Should ethical behavior change with the jobs and professions in which we are employed ? Why or why not?

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Ethical Behavior

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Ethical Behavior

It costs just pennies!

I didnt have time!

I deserve it!

It doesn't hurt anybody !

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Examples of Myths of Ethical Behavior

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Ethical Behavior
Some reasons why business people act unethically Rationalization Bad role models in the organization Peer pressure Difficulty in defining what is ethical Corporate culture Pressure from superiors
Source: What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right, Michael S. Jones, ABCNews.com, February 21, 2002

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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Exercise # 4

Assess the different dimensions of value in your current or most recent job job.

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Self Assessment of Work Ethic

There is always room for improvement ! To exceed and excel, you must push yourself to higher levels !

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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Exercise # 5

Choose areas for improvement. (mark your assessment)

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Brainstorm

Ideas for improvement

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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Exercise # 6

Create Action Plan

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Working Values and Preferences

When Working Values meets Personal Preferences

What I like to do

What I do well

What I have to do

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Working Values and Preferences

When Working Values meets Personal Preferences Company expectations about your performance and work ethic become more important than personal preferences

What I like to do

What I do well

What I have to do

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Working Values Personal Journal

Exercise # 7

Personal Preferences vs. Expected Working Values

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Working Values
Articulating preferences in the job search and interview
1.

2. 3.

4.

Read the job description carefully. Know what the company expects. Even jobs with the same name may require different tasks. Know your strengths and weaknesses. List Li t your skills: kill Knowledge gained from education and experience Transferable skills such as the ability to communicate, get along with people, solve problems, plan, create, etc. Personal traits from your areas Be ready to share these during your interview, but word them in a positive way.

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Work Ethic Remember

The foundation of responsible workplace behavior is ethical thinking and reasoning such as: What is right and wrong What are acceptable standards of conduct What attitudes and attributes foster and sustain society

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Work Ethic Remember

Sometimes people must choose
What I want What I want to be

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Work Ethic Remember

Ethics have a price but also a value, self-restrain, sacrifice, service and charity worthwhile.
which makes

You will remember for years how good you felt about making a good decision.
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Questions ? Thoughts ?

Thank you for your time !

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Acknowledgments

Dissemination Policy This product was funded by a grant awarded under the Presidents Community-Based Job Training Grants as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labors Employment and Training Administration. The information contained in this product was created by a grantee organization (Eastern Iowa Community College District) and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor or Eastern Iowa Community College District. All references to non-governmental companies or organizations, their services, products, or resources are offered for informational purposes and should not be construed as an endorsement by the Department of Labor or Eastern Iowa Community College District. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it and is intended for individual organizational, non-commercial use only.

Jennifer Best Lora Kaisler ATEEC Services Tim Cottle Mercedes Luna-Rivero

EICC Logistics Technician Program July 2008

Copyright 2008 EICCD, all rights reserved. Contact Eastern Iowa Community College District for permission. Case studies and examples are fictitious. Any similarity to persons living or dead is merely coincidental.

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References and Bibliography

4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Associated Press (2007, December 17). California Police Reward Good Drivers With Coffee. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http://cbs13.com/watercooler/safe.drivers.sacramento.2.612778.html. Brainy Quote (2007). Selections from the database. Retrieved 20 December 2007, from http://www.brainyquote.com/. Business Education Network (Nd.). Business and Education Partnership Work Ethic Rubric. IA: Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce. Committee on Standards in Public Life (2007, March 10). The Seven Principles of Public Life. London, UK. Retrieved 21 December 2007, from http://www.public-standards.gov.uk/about_us/the_seven_principles_of_life.aspx. DeMars, N. (1998, April 2). You Want Me To Do What? When Where & How to Draw the Line at Work. Simon & Schuster: Fireside Edition (ISBN-13: 978-0684850467) Edition. (ISBN 13: 978 0684850467). Jones, M.S. (2002, February 21). What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right. ABCNews.com, [as cited in Business Ethics Activity Book, the: 50 Exercises for Promoting Integrity at Work by Marlene Caroselli, AMACON publisher, June 2003 (ISBN-13: 9780814472002). Josephson Institute. (2007). The Six Pillars. Character Counts! Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://charactercounts.org/defsix.htm. National Engineers Week Foundation (2007, February 17-23). Attributes Employers Value Most in Candidates. Retrieved 2 January 2008, from http://www.eweek.org/site/News/stats/attributes.shtml. University of Wisconsin System, Department Chairs (2002, April 3). Ethics Seminar Outline. (Video-conference results). Retrieved 21 December 2007, from http://www.uwsa.edu/gc-off/deskbook/ethics_seminar2.doc. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. (2007, September). Work ethic. (Wikipedia contribution derived from Daniel T. Rogers. The Work Ethic in Industrial America, 1850-1920. Univ. of Chicago Press, 1978.) Retrieved 17 December 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_ethic. 52

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