Workplace Ethics and Values Training
Posted in Policies & Procedures
Employers are expected to do their part to make ethical expectations clear. At least, as far as workplace ethics are concerned.
Trainings in workplace ethics sometimes work; sometimes, it backfires. It's really a case-to-case basis. However, it should be made clear that the conn
ection between the work ethics of the employer and the work ethics of the employee remains strong. Understand that one's ethics is his or her system of moral standards or principles that may or may not agree with the company's professional work ethics standards.
Despite the differences, promoting professional work ethics requires the employer to do everything in his or her power to set up the employees for success.
There are various ways by which workplace ethics may be put into effect by the company. Among these are:
- Requiring them to read and understand the company's ethics manual
- Requiring them to attend a training session on workplace ethics
- Requiring them to sign a document to uphold the ethical principles promoted within the company or the organization
The three methods mentioned are great ways to promote ethics. But when the company is contented with such an undertaking, they fail to see that these methods are not enough to uphold workplace ethics. More than the methods mentioned, employers should ask themselves these questions as well:
Are the work place ethics expectations in my organization clearly communicated?
People need to know what is expected of them. That is an understatement. Vague concepts will only cause confusion and miscommunication. Clarity is an integral part of ethics training.
If the ethical issue is black and white, the employer must leave no room for interpretation. If the issue relies on human judgment, the expectation must be logical and be grounded in principle.
Are the ethical expectations in the ethics training of my organization based in common sense and reality?
Expectations should be doable; it should be attainable as well. Unattainable ethics undermine the potentials of the employee and so they resort to unethical means to reach those expectations.
In effect, unattainable ethics make immoral individuals out of perfectly good people. If expectations are burdensome, they cloud the idealism of ethical people.
Does the system of dealing with ethical problems show respect and due process to people involved?
Ask yourself how employees are treated once they are caught or accused of ethical misconduct. Although the administration of justice is the prerogative of the company, it must always be done with fairness and respect for everyone involved.
Disciplinary action alone will not suffice, but making an effort for the employees to imbibe discipline is a better shot.
Seeing ethics as a vital component in building a progressive workplace is the key for the advancement of a company.
Employers may not immediately see the importance of an ethics program, but they soon will. After all, a serious ethics program will attract and keep good employees and not scare them away.
