Life Skills Development/Unit Five/Ethics in the Workplace/Lesson

Self Assessment

Question: What is work ethics? Answer: Work ethic is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character.

Even the Barber has to make Ethical postings

Ethics & the Socitey

Ethics are making a comeback. To begin with, more and more corporations and businessmen and women are now realizing that ethics aren’t checked at the door when entering the workplace. Ethics have every bit as much a place in the public as they do in the private. How it is there should be separate sets of ethics, depending upon whether it is your personal life or your work life? The answer is that there shouldn’t be a separate set and in light of recent events that we see on our television sets as of late, more and more companies are realizing this fact. Some companies are incorporating ethics into their training. It is a subject that can go hand- in-hand. With business and when employees and CEO’s alike understand what ethics are about, business can improve. Not only will the community take note of the ethical nature of a business but also so will customers.

Periodic re-evaluations are suggested in the ethics training as well, since time change many things that some would never consider ethical or non-ethical. For instance, when the first computer hacker to send a work into a university computer system crippled the entire network, that the system was a part of, including that of public utilities – simply because he could do it – a question of ethics is hard to pose. Computers were new, at the time. And no one had ever been able to do such a thing before. With new times come new technology and new ways of doing things. Ethics will still play a part of it all and refreshing ethics training, only re-strengthens what has already been learned, when new ages come about.

In the end its all about what a person understands about ethics, many university curricula are now heavily applying the teaching of Ethics and for good reason. Young minds will take this information into the workforce and understand that ethics need to be applied there as well as in the private sector.

Corporations will be able to avoid embarrassing scandals that are presented all over national news. Small business will be able to keep and attract more clients and customers. Negotiations between businesses could be accomplished with more consideration for the other company in mind, which will only help both. Above all, a high level of ethics of your business should be in place at least for the customers. If anything it is the customer that should be considered the most when it comes to ethical business practices. In the long run, a company will reap great profits from a customer that feels he/she is being treated fairly and truthfully.

Self Assessment

Having read the information above, state whether you agree or disagree with the view that work ethics is necessary in society. List five reasons supporting your previous answer.

Self Assessment

Question: What type of behaviour would be considered ethical for the workplace? Answer: Monitor the volume of your conversations. Be sensitive to how loudly you may be speaking. Do you notice that people down the hall comment on your conversations? That might indicate your voice is too loud. Consider closing your office door and lowering you voice whenever speaking in person or on the telephone. Keep personal telephone conversations - and emails - brief and at a minimum. Be ever mindful that others are nearby and that this is a place of business. Do not use the company telephone, fax or email for any inappropriate and personal matters. In some workplaces, privacy is difficult to find. If you overhear a private conversation, practice selective hearing. Avoid the urge to be “helpful” in areas best left to the other person to handle on their own. Your best bet for being treated as a professional at work is to keep all workplace conversations professional. Sharing professional information is wonderful gossiping is not. Only discuss personal matters with specific individuals, superiors and management. Be sensitive to scents and smells around you. Save cologne and perfumes for social occasions, and ask if fresh flowers and potpourri bother co-workers before installing them in your space. When eating at your desk or in shared areas, avoid foods with strong smells and aromas that will travel throughout the office. As great as French fries, Chinese food, and Italian food are, smelling them together in the same room and office can become unpleasant. Dispose of empty food containers and other items where they won’t contribute negatively to the office atmosphere. Use shared areas with respect and courtesy. Workplace kitchens can be the biggest source of co-worker tension. If you expect everyone you work with to cleanup after themselves, model that behaviour yourself. Wash and return all kitchen items to their proper place, clean spills and wipe countertops and tables as needed. When leaving food items in a shared refrigerator, mark all items with your name and date. Remove all items at the end of your work week and toss or recycle empty containers. Restrooms run a close second to kitchens as annoyance spots. After use, wipe the counter tops and sink of any spilled water or soap. Be sure the toilet is clean for the next user. Notify the proper attendant if supplies are low or out and of any plumbing problems. Maintain all shared items in “like new” condition and returned borrowed supplies. Leave the photocopier in working condition and be sure to take back that borrowed stapler with at least a few staples left inside. If a machine stalls or jams, take time to undo the jam or to alert the proper person to attend to it. We all expect and want to be able to use items and equipment when needed.

Self Assessment

Question: What types of behaviours are considered unethical? Answer: Types of unethical behavior Plagiarism Improper conduct ( gossiping about your supervisors or co-workers) Sexual Harassment Coming to work late Stealing

Self Assessment

Perform a role play demonstrating a work environment without work ethics. Using the same situation as above, Perform a role play demonstrating a work environment practising work ethics.

Self Assessment

Question: How can one avoid conflict in the work place? Answer: Zip It. Learn to think before you speak. Bite your tongue before that provocative remark comes out of your mouth and you find yourself embroiled in a fight. Sit, wait, think and act when correct. Whenever you have issues in the workplace you’re better off thinking through your words before you voice complaints, thoughts or suggestions. Whether you’re a business owner, supervisor, manager or employee, the workplace can sometimes become a tinderbox for conflict. Listen, don’t dispute! Sometimes your manager needs to tell you how disappointed he is with you. Sometimes your co-worker needs to go on a diatribe about how you “neglect” him. Sometimes your employee needs to express his or her resentment about the way you’ve treated them. You can’t argue with feelings. Listen when co-workers, managers or employees express strong feelings. Rather than argue and try to insist that they shouldn’t be feeling what they are feeling, understand that they ARE feeling that way and simply say, “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Try to put yourself in their shoes and give them the empathy that you would want yourself. Arguing may only make a situation worse. Document, document and document again. Make sure you protect yourself with thorough documentation of any potentially volatile situation. This rule applies to people on both sides of the power structure. A smart employee as well as a smart manager will document issues that relate to self-preservation and the protection of job security. Good fences make for good work relationships. Create boundaries and set limits in the workplace. Know how much contact you can take and how much will ignite your internal nuclear bomb. Also, keep in mind that you don’t know which one of your co-workers will be easily ignited, offended or wounded; another reason why keeping clear, but cordial boundaries is another way of protecting and preserving yourself. Cordiality and friendliness. Having vowed to create appropriate boundaries, make every effort to be cordial and friendly. Ask co-workers and supervisors about how they are; notice changes in their appearance in a complimentary way; comment upon the quality of their (good) work. Being popular could only make work life easier. Thou shalt not overreact! Ever!! When co-workers feel neglected, they often will create a scenario that invites your overreaction. Overreactions cause all out wars and can get you fired. Don’t do it! Assess a dispute with your co-worker. Is it really worth fighting over? Repeat to yourself, “They’re only words and I want my job”. Play well with others. If you want to win the war keep your job and progress up the career ladder; sometimes it’s strategically advantageous to lose the battle. Assess a work situation carefully. Strategize and assess your gains and losses in a situation. If your supervisor or manager needs to act as if he or she came up with an idea that was actually yours, don’t argue with them. Let brevity and paucity be your motto. In the workplace, if you keep contact limited and utilize a cordial and polite silence to avoid fights, you can often extinguish flames that are being directed your way. Supervisors and managers appreciate a cooperative employee who gets to the point succinctly. What you see: Is what you get. Do not ever try to change your co-workers, especially those who are above you in the hierarchy of the workplace. It is a cardinal rule that people can change themselves, but none of us can change another. You are doomed to failure if you try to get your supervisor to see their flaws and change their ways. Learn to change what you can and accept what you cannot change. Stay in the driver’s seat. Take control of potentially volatile work situations and take charge of managing them. For example if you work for an individual who needs ample amounts of admiration and appreciation, give it to them. Work actively to make your work life smoother and to protect your employment and chances of rising on the career ladder. Remember that the best defence is a good offence. Strategize and evaluate the personalities you content with and apply good people management techniques to the cast of characters you live with during your workday.

Question: What is sexual harassment?

Answer: Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination. It is any form of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.

Self Assessment

Question: What are the usually circumstances surrounding sexual harassment? Answer: Sexual harassment can occur in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following: The victim as well as the harasser may be a woman or a man. The victim does not have to be of the opposite sex. The harasser can be the victim's supervisor, an agent of the employer, a supervisor in another area, a co-worker, or a non-employee. The victim does not have to be the person harassed but could be anyone affected by the offensive conduct. Unlawful sexual harassment may occur without economic injury to or discharge of the victim. The harasser's conduct must be unwelcome.

Self Assessment

Question: How can one resolve the conflict of sexual harassment, yet still maintain work ethics? Answer: If you are experiencing sexual harassment, there are a variety of steps you can take. Ignoring sexual harassment does not make it go away. The harasser may interpret a lack of response as encouragement! You may want to do more than one of these things... Know your rights. Sexual harassment is illegal. Trade Unions require all organizations with more than 15 employees to have policies and procedures to deal with sexual harassment. Find out what your rights are and what procedures are in place to help you. Begin by talking with a representative of the human resources department in your organization. Speak up at the time. Be sure to say "NO" clearly, firmly and without smiling. There is a chance that the harasser does not realize the behavior is offensive; you must be firm in saying that you are offended. If you decide to file charges later, it's helpful (although not necessary) to have objected to the behavior. If you smile or act unsure of yourself, the harasser may think you're saying "Yes" instead of "No." Practice with a friend until you can say "That behavior offends me" in a way that is firm and clear. Keep records. Keep track of what happens in a journal or diary and keep any letters or notes or other documents or artifacts you receive. Write down the dates, times, places, and an account of what happened. Write down the names of any witnesses. Identify an advocate. An advocate is someone who is supposed to help you use the resources of the workplace effectively. Most offices should have someone who will help you. Advocates should have training to help you with both informal and formal procedures to deal with your situation. Write a letter. People have successfully stopped sexual harassment by writing a letter detailing the behavior that is offensive and asking the person who is harassing them to stop the behavior. The letter should be polite, unemotional, and detailed. Such a letter seems to be more powerful than a verbal request. The recipient of the letter seldom writes back; the person usually just stops the behavior. Report sexual harassment to the appropriate person in the organization. All work environments are required to have policies and procedures for dealing with sexual harassment. You can use those policies and procedures to make an informal or a formal complaint against the person who harasses you. File a complaint with your state agency that deals with employment discrimination. Many states have laws against employment discrimination and sexual harassment. Your first legal step should be to file a complaint with your employer and your trade union.

Activity

Perform a role play maintaining ethical behaviour despite pressure to the contrary – ‘Resolution of sexual harassment incident in the office/workplace’ Review any Code of Ethics that becomes available to you. Is any mention of sexual harassment and ways of reporting and getting redress in the work places. If not create your own version of what should be in the regulations of every company.

Portfolio Contents

1. List of examples of ethical and unethical behaviour in the workplace
2. Reflections on role play: Resolution of sexual harassment incident in the office/workplace
3. Own version of Code of Ethics including process to resolve sexual harassment issues
4. Notes on the class discussion
5. Reflections on group work and oral work on Ethics in the Workplace

Checklists of Performance Task

1. Discussion

	RUBRIC of performance criteria	V. Well Done	Well Done	OK	Not Ok- Will redo by ….
1.	I made a contribution to the general discussion at least once
2.	I understood the concept of ethics and morals more clearly by engaging in the discussion

2. List

	RUBRIC of performance criteria	V. Well Done	Well Done	OK	Not Ok- Will redo by ….
1.	I created a list of at least five reasons in column format describing, from my perspective, why ethical behaviour should/shouldn’t be found in the workplace

3. Role play

	RUBRIC of performance criteria	V. Well Done	Well Done	OK	Not Ok- Will redo by ….
1.	I was able to demonstrate forms of unethical and ethical behaviour in the workplace
2.	I demonstrated ways of addressing and resolving instances of unethical behaviour in the workplace
3.	I now know the right way to conduct myself in the workplace

4. Reflection on group presentation

	RUBRIC of performance criteria	V. Well Done	Well Done	OK	Not Ok- Will redo by ….
1.	I have established the difference between ethical and unethical behaviour
2.	I have identified ways of addressing unethical behaviour generally
3.	I have understood “the code of ethics” that applies in organizations/workplaces
4.	I expressed my views in both the reflection segment and the group presentation at least once.

5. Writing my own version of a Code of Ethics with regulations about the process of resolving sexual harassment complaints

	RUBRIC of performance criteria	V. Well Done	Well Done	OK	Not Ok- Will redo by ….
1.	I have read and understood at least 2 “the code of ethics” that apply in different organizations/workplaces codes of ethics of different firms
2.	I have worked out a process from complaint, listening, to resolution (of several possible types)
3.	I have written my own Code of Ethics (and regulations) that is an improvement on current ones

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