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]