Chapter 1 Introduction to Work Ethics

1.1 Defining Work ethics

2 What are ethics? They are a set of (often unspoken – and generally understood) moral principles
relating to a specified group, field or form of conduct. A group of moral principles, standards of
behavior or set of values regarding proper conduct in the workplace.

3 Ethics on the job often deal with a code of conduct or a set of principles for BOTH the employer
and the employee.

4 Workplace ethics serve as guiding principles that effective leaders use in setting professional
tone and behavior.

5 Many establishments have created written codes of ethics, which are designed to remove the
guesswork about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

6 These codes of ethics may include employee treatment, wages, benefits, working conditions,
behavior of employees and any other issues that may impact operations.

Work Ethics for an Employer

 •To provide a safe work environment for staff and employees

 •To treat employees with dignity and respect

 •To provide a fair wage for the services rendered

 •To handle all business transactions with integrity and honesty

Work Ethics for an Employee

 •To show up on time

 •To tend to company business the whole time while at work

 •To treat the company’s resources, equipment and products with care

 •To give respect to the company by working with honesty and integrity

Standards of Conduct or Action Established by a Profession.

• Ethics are Important because they protect the public,

• educate members of the profession,

• ensure accountability of mental health professionals,

• serve as a guideline for improving practice,

• help control internal disagreement,

• thus promoting stability in the profession, and protects practitioners from malpractice suits
or licensing board complaints.
 • Professional ethics are principles that govern the behavior of a person or group in a business
environment. Like values, professional ethics provide rules on how a person should act
towards other people and institutions in such an environment

Work Ethics –aspects

1 Professional manner
- Being Punctual
- Being Polite
- Being Respectful
- Being Dependable
2 Personal Life

-Separate work life from private life

 Avoid discussing personal problems

 Keep personal telephone calls to a minimum

3. Respect for property – Do not steal, cash or office supplies

Qualities of a good employee

 Responsibility - employees show up for work on time and work diligently to become familiar
with job duties and perform them correctly

 Flexibility - employees can adjust to changes without complaining

 Honesty - employees admit their mistakes and find out how to prevent making them again

 Teamwork – employees work with a large team

 Commitment - the quality that supports all your abilities and skills to build a strong work
ethic

 Excellence – employees make the most of opportunities to improve their abilities and learn
new skills

 How can joining a career and technical student organization help you build a good work
ethic?

Traits or characteristic of a good employee

 Be punctual

 Be loyal

 Be honest
  Be Dependable

 Be willing to learn

 Accept responsibility

 Have right attitude

 Take pride

 Help whenever required

 Appreciate privileges and not abuse them

1.2 History of Work Ethics

 Moral History

 The application of everyday moral or ethical norms to business (De George, 2005).” Early
examples of ethics in business can be seen in the Bible’s Ten Commandments, Plato’s
Republic, and Aristotle’s Politic. As ethical philosophies took a more modern approach other
views began to arise like that of Adam Smith and Karl Marx.

Business Ethics in academia

 The 1960’s brought forth a new generation of social consciousness toward business.
Vietnam, Civil Rights, and Environmental Issues all became important.

 Corporations looking to minimize public outcries formed social responsibility programs.

Business schools began developing courses designed to address these social responsibilities.
In the 1970’s the birth of “Business Ethics” as an academic field came into its own and by
1990 business ethics was deeply rooted in academia.

 Ethics as a movement, the final path, shows how a business interweaves ethics into the
structures of the organization through the creation of ethics codes, officers, committees and
training.

 The business ethics movement began when new legislation was passed that targeted
businesses. These laws included the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970, and the Environmental Protection Act. Non-compliance with these laws could
bring lawsuits upon organizations.

Business Ethics through ages

• The history of business ethics is probably as old as business itself. Even in prehistoric
societies there were most likely rules governing acceptable trade practices.

• Certainly the oldest known written legal code, the Code of Hammurabi (1700s B.C.), dealt
considerably with issues concerning commerce, tariffs, and pricing.

• By the 4th century B.C., ethical issues related to business and trade had begun to receive
academic treatment in the philosophies of Plato and Aristotle. Plato's preoccupation with
justice and morality in such works as the "Republic" often had significant implications for
trade and commerce.
 • The history of business ethics also has its formative years in the reformation. Reformation
figures like Martin Luther and John Calvin, in the 15th and 16th centuries A. D., applied
religious and moral considerations to trade and economics leading to the development of
the Protestant work ethic. But in the following two centuries, Enlightenment thinkers such
as John Locke and Adam Smith began to separate religious doctrine from moral and ethical
considerations commerce and business.

1.3 Importance of work Ethics

• Workers with strong work ethics often far outpace their peers when it comes to achieving
company objectives. An employee with a good work ethic can produce high-quality work
consistently that helps move the organization forward.

• Along with their often-professional attitudes within the workplace, employees like these
exhibit model behaviors for others to emulate. Their outlook and behaviors can have a
positive impact on other employees.

• Increased Productivity. Employees with strong work ethics take their work seriously and
devote their working hours to going above and beyond what’s required of them.
 • Higher Quality Employees to Advance. Employees with a good work ethic are good
candidates for leadership positions. Their positive behaviors can become a model for more
employees.

• It creates a Respectable Workplace. A strong work ethic often involves showing

professionalism toward leaders and colleagues. The more employees demonstrate this
behavior, the more respectable your workplace acts and feels.

• Workplace ethics ensures positive ambience at the workplace.

• Workplace ethics ensures management guides and mentors their employees well.

• Management needs to make employees feel secure about their job and career.

• Organizations need to stand by their employees even at the times of crisis

• Workplace ethics also go a long way in strengthening the bond among employees and
most importantly their superiors.

How to improve work Ethics?

• Setting up mentorship and training programme to directly demonstrate a strong work ethic

• Removing stress-inducing obstacles that keep employees from engaging with the company

• Meeting individual employees’ needs to encourage greater engagement

• Changing the overall company culture to encourage positive work ethics

• Demonstrating the positive behaviors that you’d like to see in your staff

Professional characteristics at workplace

• Professional Appearance

• Reliable

• Ethical Behavior

• Organized

• Accountable

• Professional Language

• Separates Personal and Professional

• Positive Attitude

• Emotional Control

• Respectful of Others

• Strong Communicator

• Possesses Soft Skill

• Effective Time Management

• Focused