Topic Nine Employability notes

9: Manage workplace ethics

Definition of key terms

Self-worth: This refers to having a high estimate of self and implies a strong belief in
oneself and feeling worthy of things that are good.

Jurisdictional law: These are laws that applies jurisdiction to courts in a country to
determine any dispute in employment within employee locality.

Code of conduct: This refers to the guide or set of rules that outline expected roles and
responsibilities, expected behaviors and sanctions for violation of the policies and laws.

Workplace policies and guidelines: A set of rules and procedures that inform the managers
and employees of how to behave or act in the work place. They help determine actions and
decisions.

Content/Procedures/Methods/Illustrations
9.1 Policies and guidelines are observed as per the workplace requirements
Policies are actions containing goals and the means of attaining them.

9.2 Self-worth and profession is exercised in line with personal goals and organizational
policies
The only person to find self-worthiness is the employee himself or herself.
Employees should have a high estimate of themselves of how they feel and think of
themselves.
Individuals with self-worthiness feels that they are good and that they deserve the best and to
be treated with respect.
Employees should demonstrate the elements of self-worthiness in line with their personal
goals and the organization goals.
Such include:
• Ability
• Effect
• Performance
• Self-worth
Employees use their performance and abilities to determine their self-worth.
 9.3 Code of conduct is observed as per the workplace requirements.
The code of conduct defines employee behavior and is unique to the organization
represented.
Ethical behavior is essential in the organization and should be taken seriously.
Each and every individual needs to be held accountable for their work and behavior.
Observing the code of conduct is mandatory and thus the employees must be familiar with
the code of conduct and adhere to it.
In most cases, failure to comply with the code of conduct leads to dismissal, disciplinary
action or even prosecution.

9.4 Personal and professional integrity is demonstrated as per the personal

goals. Integrity is the quality of having strong morals and being honest. Personal
integrity entails being honest and sharing consistency in adherence to ethical values and
principles
9.5 Meaning of ethics
Ethics refers to the moral principles that guide a person’s behavior. They stipulate what is
right and wrong. Ethics defines human beings morally by defining wrong and right good and
evil.
Ethical perspectives
Ethics use different ethical perspectives to defend their position, and such include.
i. Moral Rules: Actions are judged as right if they ascribe to moral rules. The
action and not the result of the caution is considered. Rules not only means to the
end but should be used to treat all equally.
ii. Virtues: Actions are judged as right if they conform to defined attributes in a
community. Character should be considered as acceptable and desirable. Virtues
include honesty, courage, forgiveness, etc.
iii. Principles: Actions are judged as right if they follow principles such as
respect of individual, beneficiaries, minimizing harm and justice where others are
equally treated and benefits fairly distributed and shared.
iv. Outcomes: Actions are right if in the outcome, good consequences outdo bad
ones. This perspective looks at results of actions to judge whether they are good or
acceptable.
v. Care: Actions are right if it acknowledges value of interpersonal
relationships. for example, which solutions are fair to the involved parties.

Principles of ethics
i. Truthfulness: This principle is about testing the truth to individuals who
require knowing the truth in a situation, the one urged not to conceal facts or lie.
 ii. Confidentiality: Entails keeping secrets and concealing information that one
has a right to. Confidentiality means that information is not shared to other people
unless permission is granted.
iii. Autonomy: Refers to an individual right of self-determination that ought to
be respected.
iv. Beneficiaries: As an ethic principle, one should do well for the client. All
actions should promote good to the client.
v. Justice: Entails being fair to all clients and individuals while delivering
services.

Ethical standards
Ethical standards are principles that the organization founders use to communicate moral
values and use them as recent positions in making decisions.
Adhering to ethical standards can even attract employee, reduces turnover and enhance
sustainability.
Ethical standards are derived as:
a) Legal Ethical Standards
There are a company policies and guidelines based on laws and regulations from authority.
b) Morally based ethical standards
They have got foundations in legal standards.
This involves doing the right thing and the organization maintain a high level of ethics
practices to attract customer and efficiently deliver services.

Organizational code of ethics

The code of ethics in the organization describes the code of conduct expected based on laws
and regulations to enable the organization to conduct its business effectively.
The code of ethics offers guidance and sets standards that each and very organizational
member adheres to consistently.
it also governs actions and relationships from success of organization.
It requires compliance and adherence of all people.

Common Ethical Dilemmas

Ethical dilemmas refer to a situation in which a decision intended to be made between two
options and neither resolves the problem ethically.
Common ethical dilemmas include:
• Taking credit for others work
• Selling poor quality production for benefit
• Conducting personal business on organization time
• Inappropriate behavior
 • Stealing in the job

Organizational culture
This refers to the collective belief values and behaviors in an organization.
Organization culture is unique to every organization.
Culture is significant in a number of ways i.e.
• Forms organizational identity
• Outlines organizational norms
• Improves organizational effectiveness
• Unites members of the organization
• Draws commitment of organization members towards goal achievement

Corruption
According to Him (2013), corruption is the abuse of office for private gain and that one is
hiding under the cloaks of above of power with violation of the code of ethics stipulated.
Corruption is wrong and leads to erosion of culture, wastage of resources, mistrust and poor
service delivery.
Corruption can be caused by.
• Organizational factors: Such as lack of accountability system, weak
management, negative culture etc.
• Individual factors: Include greed, disregard for values, opportunity to
squander resources
• Societal factors: Weak laws in society, bad governance, poor role modelling
etc.

Bribery
This is the act of giving or receiving something in exchange of something or with the
intention of influencing the outcome of a situation .it is unlawful to bribe or to be bribed and
to gain illegal advantage.

Conflict of interest
Involves a conflict between personal interests and duties as an employee.
The result is that private interests improperly influence public activities and decisions.
Individuals in positions have conflict of interest when they have competing professional and
personal interest.
This leads to advantage to oneself.
All individuals in public office positions should be alert to any form of conflict of interests,
act to avoid such conflicts and directions.
The interests when aware of them, then finally turn away from the advantages causing the
conflict of interest.
Privacy and adapt protection
Privacy is an individual’s right to their personal information.
Data and information resources need to be carefully managed and safeguarded.
Data is critical in informing decisions and thus presents a vital concern.
All acts the workplace should ensure data management is committed to protect individual’s
privacy.
This is key in maintaining trust and also in development. Privacy is a human right and then
privacy and data protection are a pillar of human dignity.
Data should protect against misuse and all possible channels of intrusion to data privacy
eliminated.

Diversity, harassment and mutual respect

Diversity
Workplace diversity is important in building reputation of the organization by increasing
globalization, interaction with people of diverse backgrounds and maintains diversity for
competence advantage.

Harassment
This refers to the threatening behavior directed to an individual or group of employees. This
is a form of employment which violates the employment act.
Harassment is unwelcome as it results in fear, low productivity and turnover of employees.
Workplace harassment is common, and employees should be sensitized, and measures taken
to prevent any form of workplace harassment.

Mutual respect
Mutual respect enables the individuals to feel that their ideas and presence is valued.
The manager should not allow disrespectful behavior in the workplace which can lead to
toxic culture and cause employee turnover.
Instead, mutual respect should be cultivated to reduce workplace stress, increase
productivity and performance.
In demonstrating mutual respect, employees should manage anger, communicate politely and
encourage one.

Financial accountability /responsibilities

Financial responsibility is the process of managing financial resources in productive ways
and in the best interest of the individual and organization.
Financial accountability refers to holding an individual accountable for financial activities
and transactions.
Financial accountability and responsibility establish effective financials processes.
Financial resources should be effectively utilized in pursuit of organizational goals.
Etiquette
In the workplace etiquette is important because understanding the expected behavior in work
situations impacts have people coercive work.
Etiquette which is a behavioral code outlive exceptional in terms of behavior in the
workplace should be integrated in all tasks.
Visitors should be welcomed and attended properly, care taken handling hard customers and
employees to know how to conduct themselves in and around the workplace.

Commitment to jurisdictional laws is demonstrated as per the workplace requirements

An employment commitment to jurisdiction contract states the country laws that all applies
and purports to offer jurisdiction in courts in the same country in determining a dispute.
The employees need an understanding of the jurisdiction laws when they negotiate
employment contracts and to know the courts that are likely to have jurisdiction in the event
a dispute case.

Emerging issues in ethics

Ethics and ethical issues in the workplace continue to receive attention in organization. This
presents challenges, opportunities and improvements.
Accountability: Individuals are held responsible for their actions, ethics and accountability
are important elements to modern organizations. The individual should provide information
and justify their actions.
Conclusion
Trainees will be trained on skills, knowledge and behavior in managing work ethics.
Specifically, trainees will train on observing policies and guidelines, exercising self-worth
and profession, observe code of conduct and demonstrate personal and professional integrity
and commitment to commitment to jurisdictional laws.

you would enhance workplace diversity in the capacity of an employer in a work

environment.