Workplace ethics

what are they and

why
do we have them?
Ethics…
 Are codes of conduct that influence the
development of an ethical culture within the
workplace
 Go beyond what is legal in workplace
 Inspires communication between employees,
 Allows for respect to be extended within
organizations
 Promotes customer relationships that are
based on honesty/integrity
Personal Ethics
A branch that determines the code of
conduct one holds to
Give a purpose and direction
Determining factor at workplace
Personal ethics character traits:
Honesty
Commitment
Loyalty
What happens if there are no
ethics in a company?
Heavy employee turnover
Creative of “cliques” among
certain employees
Undermine productivity
Cost the company a great deal in
term of time and revenue
generation
 What are the benefits of having an
ethics program in a company?
Recruiting/retaining top-quality
people
More satisfying/productive work
environ.
Building/sustaining reputation
Maintaining trust of members
Open discussion of ethical issues
Providing ethical guidance

Influential Factors
 Workplace policy must be in harmony with
all laws and regulations where business
operates
Ensure basic workplace ethics prevent
any pressures, actions that are
considered illegal, promote
discrimination, support unfair hiring
practices or allow wages to be set
below legal standards
Influential Factors Cont.
Alsoinfluenced by business ethics
Example: Not using marketing
materials/campaigns that
mislead consumers
Involve establishing and operating
support networks such as
wellness programs that help
employees be happy

Ethics Program
 Meant to affect how people think about and
address ethical issues that arise on job
 Seeks to create a work environment where:
 It’s
okay for employees to acknowledge that
they have an ethical dilemma
 Resources are readily available to guide
employees in working through such dilemmas
before making decisions
Ethics Program Cont.
Gives employees basic tools they need
to take informed risks on behalf of
their organization
Guidelines benefit organizations by
steering employees away from ethical
risk-taking and into more
productive/appropriate kinds of risk-
taking
 How do employees respond when they are
involved in an ethics program?
Less pressure to compromise ethical
standards
Less observed misconduct at work
Greater willingness to report
misconduct
Greater overall satisfaction with their
org.
Greater likelihood of “feeling valued”
by their organization
Tips on Establishing an Ethics
Program
 Ask yourself:
Why might good people in org. do
unethical things?
What are our organization’s values?
To whom is our organization
accountable?
What do we mean by “success”?
Does the leadership of our organization
support the idea of an ethical
workplace?