This research seeks to investigate the topic that deals with ethics in the workplace. How do workplace ethics apply to the practical goals of a particular organization and the work of its employees? Do organizations have written ethical policies, procedures or structures? Do leaderships of various organizations support the idea of having an ethical workplace? These are some of the questions that this research seeks to answer. This study is vey important because, this is an issue that affects the almost all employees of different organizations or companies. There have been various research carried out by individual researchers as well as other institutions on this topic. The scholars have more or less agreed about my topic, and my paper argues for a better interpretation.
A comparative case study is the methodology this study has utilized. This study utilizes the benefits of using comparative case studies in the topic of discussion, which is ethics in the workplace. This is due to the fact that information dealing with the research topic is in abundance. By looking on previous researches and studies, this research ascertains various opinions that have been made regarding ethics in the workplace. Have ethical guidelines been addressed appropriately in different organizations?
Ethics in the workplace is an important aspect because it helps an organization grow and prosper as well (De Finance 13-4). Ethics in the workplace bring about literacy, leadership, and work culture. Ethics can be defined as the method that is designed for a code of conduct. It is a branch of philosophy that deals with questions of morals through a set of behavioral guidelines. This satisfies the self-actualization need because the workplace is important to many individuals. It provides a venue for a standard living. Although following these ethics in the workplace is a personal choice and cannot be forced upon, it is explained and expected. In order to build a foundation that would never fall to the evils of devious minds, it is essential that ethics are developed at the workplace.
A workplace is made up of different individuals, which explains an amalgamation of different attitudes, as well as imaginations tat usually dilutes the existence of ethics. While there may be different definitions of ethics in the workplace, personal ethics deals with the code of conduct that an individual adheres to or follows. It refers to the course of action that an individual can decide to take so as to attain the ultimate truth (Perle 41-3). Personal ethics differ as they are to each his or her own. Notably, personal ethics do bring responsibility and accountability to life. Moreover, it offers a purpose and direction as well, hence bringing out a meaning to life as they are huge and important determining factors of ethics at the workplace.
Commitment is an important aspect in the workplace, there is no evading it. This is so because it is the biggest motivating commitment. On the other hand, loyalty is also important as it involves faithfulness towards an individual’s work. It is a common aspect to note that, a silly aspect of disloyalty always ends up in an unpleasant way in many situations. Despite the fact that each individual has the right to what they wish, it is important that the rights be governed by some form of rules due to conditioning of the mind. These rules, referred to as ethics, involve every act being done with the right mind.
Honesty is also very important as it is always said that “honesty is the best policy”. However, as always practiced, the truth is usually conveyed as being inconvenient. Evil minds will always lie as they see what they will gain shortly (Fagothey 56). All in all, it is very important that people in the workplace incorporate the aspect of honesty with every individual. It is important to note that, honesty, rights, loyalty and commitment are all important in creating a conducive work culture in any workplace. Despite the fact that personal ethics do differ, they are essential in the creation of the ethical standards of an organization or company. It is also important that every employee put a single ethical platform due to differences in their personal ethics. All actions demand evolution, which brings into focus ethics in the workplace.
Organizational ethics, on the other hand, goes beyond personal conduct or beliefs of employees; however, it focuses on the organization or the workplace as a whole. It involves a certain group of individuals working together to achieve common goals while doing their different businesses. Notably, ethics codes deal with a number of corporate values and guiding principles as well. Organizational ethics are sets of formal and informal standards of conducts that guide people’s behavior at the workplace. Ethics program refers to the formal policies, practices, and processes that different organizations can develop so as to deal with their different ethical issues.
Developing an ethics program involves cooperation, decision making, input, interaction, and commitment of many individuals. It is important that there is proper planning as the effectiveness of an organization’s approach depends on characteristics unique to its own culture and many other aspects such as the leadership style or the organization’s relationship with the management. Most studies show that formal ethical programs are becoming common in most organizations across the government, for-profit, and non-profit sectors. Many employees have confirmed the presence of ethics programs in their workplace.
There are many potential benefits that could be attached to effective ethics programs. It ensures that top-quality people are recruited and retained in an organization. It builds and sustains an organization’s reputation within the communities it operates. Most importantly, it creates a working environment that is more satisfying and productive. It also provides the ethical guidance, as well as resources for employees, before making difficult decisions. It legitimizes an open discussion of ethical issues as it maintains the trust of individual members to ensure presence of self-regulation (Solomon 121). Lastly, it aligns the work efforts of staff with the broader vision and mission of an organization.
Ethics programs are very important as they go a long way into affecting how people think about or address ethical issues arising from the workplace. It is important that employees be provided with ethical standards, the necessary training and resources to receive advice (Vendemiati 70-2). By doing this, organizations end up creating working environments that employees acknowledge that they have an ethical dilemma. The employees are also provided with the resources to deal with such dilemmas before they involve themselves in decision making.
Ethical guidelines also give employees the necessary tools they need so as to take informed risks on behalf of the organization. These guidelines end up benefiting the organizations by keeping employees away from ethical risk-taking and lead them to productive and appropriate types of risk-taking. It is important that ethics programs allow good individuals to what is right and succeed in the process.
Ethics in the workplace is an important aspect because it helps an organization grow and prosper as well. It brings about literacy, leadership, and work culture. In order to build a foundation that would never fall to the evils of devious minds, it is essential that ethics are developed at the workplace. Different definitions of ethics touch on personal ethics, organizational ethics, honesty, rights, commitment and loyalty. Organizations should put in place ethical programs that guide their employees in their daily routine. It is important that ethics programs allow good individuals to what is right and succeed in the process.
Dating In The Workplace
Work is an almost inevitable ingredient of human existence. Normally, people work for approximately 8 hours a day, which translates to 40 hours a week. Man (including women) on the other hand is a social being who deserves care and love. As such, the large portion of time he uses may be a predisposing factor to lead man away from this reality. Nevertheless, man is not devoid of options. Given that in most cases, he does not work with his partner or relatives, relationships in the work place are bound to arise to fill in this vacuum. There has been a raging debate on the legality of such affairs on whether it is right to date your boss or co-workers. This essay explores the ethics behind such relationships.
To set the ball rolling, one would be interested in the origin the modern romance in the work place. Where did all begin? To answer this, we need to know traditionally, man used to meet their soul mates. This included places like the church, during family events, in the neighborhood and during leisure times. Every one is a witness to the fact, with modern civilization and the economic crisis that plunge countries quite often, man has little time for any of these with most of his time, as hinted above, being spent in the work place. Such are the conditions that favor the growth of romantic relationships on the office since the office provides a “pre-selected pool of people who share at least one important interest (About.com)”. Since such affairs seem almost inevitable, there is need for the stakeholder to have the necessary policies and laid down ethical considerations in handling such matters. The following paragraphs look in to the ethical perspective of workplace relationships and conclude by noting the policies that should accompany them.
Ethics in the workplace dating or relationships can be taken as a game theory in which all the stak4eholders have interest just like players have interests in winning a game. Furthering this game theory reveals that, there are two rules to be followed. One rule prohibits the outcomes that people disapprove. This rule is based on the deontological (inconsequential) ethical theory, which supports one to do a particular with no fear of the future because it is unpredictable. It also posits that one should not fail to make a decision because of fearing its consequences or blame from others.
Dwelling on the above theory, many people resent workplace dating because of the repercussions involved. The affairs may turn sour and lead to break-ups or sacking of the subordinate party or both or worse end in endless lawsuits (Harvard Business Review, 2010). What such people with such ideas fail to understand is what ethics have summarized in the non-consequential theory above. Apparently, looking at office dating from this lens justifies them as nobody has control of the future, after all, such affairs may lead to happy-thereafter marriages. You never know.
The other ethical theory that comes at play in this workplace romance scenario is the utilitarian (consequential) theory. According to it, a decision should be based on the common good of the outcome to all the parties involved. This perspective may pose a challenge to modern dating in the workplace since they are mainly centered on the fulfillment of one party’s interest (usually the supervisor) at the expense of the subordinate. Ethically, going by this theory, such affairs should not be given a chance if they do not further the interests of all the parties. If they conform to it, all is well with them.
As mentioned earlier, dating in the workplace is eminent and indeed is here to stay as long we continue spending long hours in the office. Following the postulations of the above ethical theories may do but it is also important to be discreet in the whole issue. One should keep public show-offs of affection and limit those they share their confidential information with. It is also important to behave professionally at all times if one’s work involves being constantly sharing responsibilities with their partners. Above all things, one should acquaint themselves with the company’s policies on written and unwritten policies on such affairs.