Chapter 5 ETHICS, POLITICS, and DIVERSITY Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] OBJECTIVES • Define ethics and its impact both personally and professionally • Identify the importance of maintaining confidentiality • Understand the importance of ethical decision making Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] ETHICS DEFINED • Ethics: a moral standard of right and wrong – Just as your personality is shaped by outside influences, so is your ethical make-up – Ethical behavior is a reflection of influences Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] INFLUENCES ON ETHICS AT WORK • Ethical issues arise daily at work • Confidential issues: workplace matters that should be kept private • Implied confidentiality: an obligation to not share information with individuals with whom the business is of no concern • If you are uncertain about sharing information, check with your boss Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] TALK IT OUT 1. What activities done during class could be considered unethical? 2. What activities done at work could be considered unethical? Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] ACTIVITIES Activity 5-1 (page 70) Activity 5-3 (page 70) Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] MAKING ETHICAL CHOICES • There are three levels of ethical decisions: The first is the law The second is fairness The third is your conscience Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] WHEN OTHERS ARE NOT ETHICAL • If someone is breaking the law, you have an obligation to inform your employer immediately Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] WHEN OTHERS ARE NOT ETHICAL Accusing Others of Wrongdoing • Document facts and evidence • You have three choices: – Alert outside officials if the offense is illegal and extreme – If the offense is not illegal and extreme and is accepted by management, accept management’s decision – If the offense is not illegal and extreme and is accepted by management, yet you are bothered, decide whether you want to continue working for the company Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint] WHEN OTHERS ARE NOT ETHICAL Company Theft • Company theft is not always big items; more often it is small items, such as: – Office supplies • If not used for company purposes – Time • Surfing the Internet, making personal calls, and taking extra-long breaks Activity 5-4 Professionalism: Skills for Workplace Success, 2/e Lydia E. Anderson • Sandra B. Bolt Copyright ©2011 by Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Pearson [imprint]