Ethics are the principles and values that guide our behavior and decisions in different situations. Ethics are important in the workplace, as they affect our reputation, performance, relationships, and well-being. Ethics also reflect the culture and values of the organization we work for, and influence its success and reputation.
Here are some of the top ethics an employee should display in workplace:
- Honesty: Honesty is the foundation of trust and credibility in the workplace. Honesty means telling the truth, admitting mistakes, and avoiding deception or fraud. Honesty also means being transparent and accountable for our actions and decisions. Honesty helps us build trust and respect with our co-workers, managers, clients, and stakeholders, and avoid conflicts and legal issues.
- Integrity: Integrity is the alignment of our actions and words with our values and principles. Integrity means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching or when it is difficult or unpopular. Integrity also means being consistent and reliable in our performance and behavior. Integrity helps us maintain our self-respect and dignity, and earn the respect and admiration of others.
- Professionalism: Professionalism is the demonstration of competence, quality, and excellence in our work. Professionalism means having the skills, knowledge, and attitude to perform our tasks effectively and efficiently. Professionalism also means following the rules, standards, and expectations of our profession and organization. Professionalism helps us achieve our goals and objectives, and contribute to the success and reputation of our organization.
- Respect: Respect is the recognition and appreciation of the dignity, diversity, and rights of others. Respect means treating others with courtesy, kindness, and fairness, regardless of their position, background, or opinion. Respect also means listening to others, valuing their input, and giving them constructive feedback. Respect helps us create a positive and inclusive work environment, where everyone feels valued and supported.
- Responsibility: Responsibility is the acceptance of the consequences of our actions and decisions. Responsibility means taking ownership of our work, fulfilling our obligations, and meeting our deadlines. Responsibility also means being proactive, resourceful, and solution-oriented in facing challenges and solving problems. Responsibility helps us improve our performance and productivity, and enhance our credibility and reputation.
These are some of the top ethics an employee should display in workplace. By following these ethics, we can not only improve ourselves as professionals, but also contribute to the success and well-being of our organization and society. Some examples of unethical behavior in the workplace are:
- Misusing company time: This is when employees work on personal projects, text, browse the Internet, or cover for someone who shows up late or alters a timesheet, instead of doing their assigned tasks. This is one of the most common and frequent unethical behaviors in the workplace
- Abusive behavior: This is when employees intimidate, threaten, harass, or bully others, either verbally or physically. This can create a hostile and unsafe work environment and affect the well-being and productivity of the victims. This is one of the less common but serious unethical behaviors in the workplace
- Lying: This is when employees deceive others by providing false or misleading information, either to avoid consequences, gain benefits, or harm others. This can damage trust and credibility and lead to conflicts and legal issues. This is one of the most common unethical behaviors in the workplace
- Violating company Internet policies: This is when employees use the company’s Internet access for inappropriate or illegal purposes, such as downloading pirated software, visiting pornographic sites, or gambling online. This can expose the company to security risks, legal liabilities, and reputation damage. This is one of the most common unethical behaviors in the workplace
- Employee theft: This is when employees steal money, goods, or information from the company, either for personal use or to sell to others. This can cause financial losses, inventory shortages, and competitive disadvantages for the company. This is one of the less common but serious unethical behaviors in the workplace.
- Sacrificing safety: This is when employees disregard or violate safety rules or standards, either to save time, cut costs, or increase profits. This can endanger the health and lives of themselves and others, and result in accidents, injuries, or fatalities. This is one of the less common but serious unethical behaviors in the workplace.
- Discrimination: This is when employees treat others unfairly or differently based on their personal characteristics, such as race, gender, age, religion, or disability. This can violate human rights and dignity and create a discriminatory and unjust work environment. This is one of the less common but serious unethical behaviors in the workplace.
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