Ethics In The Workplace

Ethics deals with concepts of right and wrong. Ethics in the workplace can be a vital topic, as proper conduct when dealing with colleagues involves the entire company. Companies that foster ethics in the workplace can be both successful and a place that people want to work. Any dishonest business practices can trickle down to the employees, leading to consumer distrust.

Companies are encouraged to create ethical workplace environments, as values drive behavior. Managers are key in promoting ethics in the workplace, as they serve as leaders. On too many occasions, managers accused of white-collar crimes admit that they knew the right thing, yet chose something else. Managers are also responsible for overseeing who joins an organization, and selecting good people will promote ethics in the workplace.

It is too often assumed that workers, managers as well, will operate on their own personal ethical standards. This "ethics from the inside" approach often fails. Businesses need established standards of ethical behaviors that employees can follow in their daily routines. These written standards offer clues as to which behaviors are accepted, and which behaviors are frowned upon.

Ultimately, ethics in the workplace is simply the right thing to do. Recent history is littered with examples of corporations behaving unethically (Enron, World Com), which can have major repercussions on the larger society.