Ethics in Everyday Conduct

by: Lincoln E. Bittner

Many businesses say that they are proud of their ethical standards, and that they are among the few who maintain superior business ethics. When I was a new manager, I heard the party lines just as I am sure you are hearing them now. The company managers say something like, “We value our track record as an ethical company, and will only hire someone who maintains the highest level of personal integrity.”

The questions that I have been asked are, “what are ethics, how are these companies interpreting the word ethics, and what are the principles of conduct that they are conforming to?” This turns out to be quite a challenging question. It seems that many companies are attaching their own definition to this term. Some are even waving it as a banner to disguise what they are really doing.

The term ‘Ethics’ is defined in two ways. First is ‘Ethic’ which is defined by Webster as “a system of moral values.” Second it the action term we most commonly hear about, ‘Ethical’. Webster defines the term ‘Ethical’ as “conforming to right principles of conduct.” This is where most companies are able to insert their own interpretation of the term, and where some have gotten into trouble. As a new manager, you need to know that ethical conduct is the act of maintaining honesty in your professional performance.

There are three ways that you can fail to be honest. The first is withholding information that someone needs to perform to the best of his/her ability, or that someone needs to make a fully informed decision. I have seen this tactic used many time by managers who want to get rid of a subordinate who they don’t care for. The manager will purposely withhold some of the information that this subordinate needs to complete the task properly. The subordinate fails to do the job and the manager terminates them because their performance is not up to company standards. It was not the subordinates fault, however he/she suffers the consequences of the unethical managers actions.

The second way that you can fail to be ethical is by failing to perform your duties to the best of your ability. The responsibility of performing your duties with integrity and honor is yours. To choose not to excel at your duties is not only unethical, but can be considered theft. When you agreed to work for your employer there were two major agreements made. You agreed to perform specific duties for the company. Your employer agreed to pay you a wage for your services. You now have the obligation to perform these services as skillfully as possible. Anything less is withholding your services and would be the same as your employer withholding some of your compensation because they didn’t feel like paying you today.

The third way that you can fail to be honest is by not treating each of your coworkers equally. Many new managers find it hard to determine whether they are treating all of their workers equally because of the diversity of tasks. There is legislation that defines equal opportunity, but none that defines equality in your daily conduct. Equality with regards to your practices will be measured by whether everyone within a specific workgroup understands what is expected of them, and whether they have equal access to the opportunities that you can provide.

Failure on your part to conduct yourself ethically will draw different levels of penalty, up to and sometimes including legal action. These failings can be one of commission or omission. You either committed the act, or you neglected to execute your duties fairly. It is always wise to remember that you choose each day whether to act in an ethical manner, and with this choice comes the consequences.

For further information on the subject of ethics in the workplace, see my article on ethics in the hiring process. Ethics in this area will have a major impact on the future of your business and possibly your career. As we all know, new employees present us with many opportunities and new ideas. The hiring process will have a direct impact on the longevity of this future employee and your ability to meet business objectives.

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