WHAT DO WE MEAN BY WORK-PLACE ETHICS?
One of the most important responsibilities that we place on the leaders of organizations is upholding the highest standards of ethical behavior. In a nutshell, this comes down to doing the right thing even when the wrong thing might also have some attraction. Work-place ethics are most often related to decision-making processes. Most leaders face the opportunity to choose between alternative courses of action in their work situations and other aspects of their lives. Work-place ethics refer to choosing the option that is determined to be the moral or legal “right” choice, even if the other alternative(s) are very attractive and even if you can “get away with” the less ethical choice.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO EXERCISE WORK-PLACE ETHICS?
Leaders are often put in decisions where they must choose
among options that vary in their degree of ethical behavior. One of the reasons
why this is a common issue for leaders is that there are often competing
priorities for businesses1. On the one hand, organizations exist to
generate profits for their shareholders, which may encourage leaders to act in
ways that are less ethical in order to cut costs or increase revenues. On the
other hand, organizations are made up of human beings who are personally
invested in the company and often live in the communities in which they work.
If the individuals are harmed by decisions that maximize company profitability,
then the decision is not an ethical one. Only one stakeholder is getting their
needs met, at the expense of other stakeholders.
According to one theory, leaders may make bad ethical decisions and rationalize these decisions2: For example, a leader may tell themselves it is not really illegal or immoral, or perhaps that it will never be found out or that their bad behavior will be rewarded.
HOW DO I MAKE SURE MY DECISIONS ARE ETHICAL?
If you are worried about how a decision will impact others or how others will perceive your decision, then chances are ethics are a consideration. You might start by asking yourself some questions3:
SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES TO HELP YOU MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS
A key reason why decisions that have ethical implications may be difficult for leaders to make is that they may be encountering situations that they have never had to deal with before. This lack of experience may be characterized by a great deal of ambiguity in terms of what to do. Some basic principles may be useful in helping to guide the ethical decision-making process:
1.Don’t allow personal gains to outweigh the good of the organization
2.Recognize all perspectives when making an ethical decision
3.Respect people and their rights
4.Keep promises and honor contracts
5.Use feelings to help decide morale dilemmas
6.Get all the facts
7.Treat all people fairly
8.Define who you are, your company & personal values
9.Always challenge your decision to be in line with your values, beliefs and morals
10. Never compromise your integrity
11. Ethical decisions must use fair procedures and account for unjust action
12. Don’t choose the easiest answer; consider all the options (don’t just go for a quick fix)
13. Don’t overstep the bounds of what outsiders will tolerate while balancing company’s & outsider’s interest
14. Consider the risk of setting & trying to achieve overly ambitious goals
15. Communicate that all employees have a responsibility to keep the company’s moral & ethical standards in check
16. When in doubt, don’t
17. Instill proper checks & balances of ethical behavior that don’t create bottlenecks
18. When possible seek the input of effected individuals at a moral crossroads
(1) Sherwin, D.S. (1983). The ethical roots of the business system. Harvard Business Review. 1-9.
(2) Gellerman, S.W. (1986). Why good managers make bad ethical choices. Harvard Business Review. 1-7.
(3) Nash, L.L. (1981). Ethics without the sermon. Harvard Business Review.
79-89.
~ Contributed by Cathy Bush