Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Journal Entry for Monday:
• Answer in your notebook
– What qualities do you look for in a President of the
United States?
– In a business leader/manager/owner?
– Should the ethics of an owner/leader differ from
that of a part-time worker?
Workplace Ethics
Chapter 9
9.1: Desirable Employee Qualities
9.2: Ethical Behavior
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Employers once looked for workers with
specific skills.
– What things do they look for today?
Computer skills
Bookkeeping
Graphic arts
Ethical
Communication
Speaking/Presentation
Professionalism
Hardworking
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• How do you prepare to acquire so many skills
to fit into the workplace?
The best thing to do is start with the skills you have
or are developing and add a few key skills:
•Cooperativeness
•Follow Directions
•Willingness to Learn
•Initiative
•Responsibility
•Self-Management
•Loyalty
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Cooperativeness - willingness to work well
with everyone else on the job to reach a
common goal.
• Your first job will put your cooperativeness to the test!
– Worst tasks
– Little responsibility
– How do you handle it?
•
•
•
•
•
Smile
Do job well
Don’t complain
Do your fair share
Help coworkers who fall behind
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Follow Directions
– Following directions is a vital skill on the job
• Listening is one of the strongest skills you can have
– How do you handle it?
• Stop whatever you are doing and listen to directions being
given
• Listen carefully even if you already know what to do
• Take notes if possible
• Identify the goal or purpose of the task
• Ask questions if you don’t understand the directions
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Willingness to Learn
– Most importantly, learn the system at your job
because every job operates differently
• New employees won’t be expected to know everything at
first…but will be expected down the road to know all about the
company
– How do you handle it?
• Learn any job no matter how small
• Everything you learn makes you more valuable to the company
• Use every opportunity to gain more training
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Initiative - doing what needs to be done
without being told to do it.
– Just getting by will eventually get you passed by if
those around you try harder
• If you see a problem - fix it - even if it is not yours
– How do you handle it?
• Take every chance to do what is right
• Do not wait for others to fix things or get something done
• Do not be lazy
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Take on More Responsibility
– Responsibility - willingness to accept an obligation
and to be accountable for an action or situation
• With more responsibility you will feel better about your job
– How do you handle it?
• Doing more makes job more interesting
• Show you are not afraid of change
• Volunteer for new jobs
• Look for opportunities to do more than you were
hired to do
• Don’t think about extra work as simply unpaid
overtime - think of where it could get you in a year!
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Self-Management - doing the things necessary to be
good at your job and build a better career
• You are in control of your raise, promotion, job, etc.
– How do you handle it?
• Set career goals and develop a plan for reaching
them. Set new goals when necessary
• Monitor your work habits and performance
• Ask for feedback on how you are doing at your job
• Act on what you learn to improve your work habits
and skills
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• Loyalty
– You are in business together with your coworkers and must work as
a team towards a common goal
• You are in control of your raise, promotion, job, etc.
– How do you handle it?
• Don’t run down the company or your boss in
conversation
• Be positive
• Look for solutions - don’t point fingers
• When there is a crisis pitch in and help the company get
through it (you are doing it for your own good too!)
Chapter 9: Workplace Ethics
• TUESDAY’S JOURNAL QUESTION
You are stranded on a small, deserted island
with 2 other people. What personality traits do
you want these 2 other people to have?
Chapter 9: Ethical Behavior
• Ethics – Principles of conduct that govern a group
or society
• Honesty
– About Time
• Don’t leave work early or come late and say you were there!
• If you work from home, be honest about how much you did
– What are the consequences of being dishonest about the time you work?
– About Money
• Don’t steal cash expecting to replace it later
• Think about how you appear to others
Chapter 9: Ethical Behavior
• Respect Employers’ Property
• Don’t illegally copy company software for
personal use
• Don’t take office supplies for home use
– Small cents add up!
Chapter 9: Ethical Behavior
• Interacting With Others: Ethical Requirements
Confidentiality – keeping private information private
without sharing to parties not privy to the
information
If your company announces new products,
expansion plans, promotions or other secretive
information you must stay silent about it until is
released to the public!
Chapter 9: Ethical Behavior
• Interacting With Others: Ethical Requirements
Fairness
Prejudice – unjustifiable negative attitude toward a person or group
It is hurtful, offensive and unacceptable
NOT tolerated in today’s workplace!