5b

I found some 'rules' for making ethical decisions in the work place on this website: http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/leader_model/development/media/Targeted%20Lessons/workplace_ethics.htm

SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES TO HELP YOU MAKE ETHICAL DECISIONS

A key reason why decisions that have ethical implications may be difficult for leaders to make is that they may be encountering situations that they have never had to deal with before.  This lack of experience may be characterized by a great deal of ambiguity in terms of what to do.  Some basic principles may be useful in helping to guide the ethical decision-making process:

1.Don’t allow personal gains to outweigh the good of the organization

2.Recognize all perspectives when making an ethical decision

3.Respect people and their rights

4.Keep promises and honor contracts

5.Use feelings to help decide morale dilemmas

6.Get all the facts

7.Treat all people fairly

8.Define who you are, your company & personal values

9.Always challenge your decision to be in line with your values, beliefs and morals

10.  Never compromise your integrity

11.  Ethical decisions must use fair procedures and account for unjust action

12.  Don’t choose the easiest answer; consider all the options (don’t just go for a quick fix)

13.  Don’t overstep the bounds of what outsiders will tolerate while balancing company’s & outsider’s interest

14.  Consider the risk of setting & trying to achieve overly ambitious goals

15.  Communicate that all employees have a responsibility to keep the company’s moral & ethical standards in check

16.  When in doubt, don’t

17.  Instill proper checks & balances of  ethical behavior that don’t create bottlenecks

18.  When possible seek the input of effected individuals at a moral crossroads

I think what stands out most about these point are how much your own personal ethics should influence

you. Even if your companies values are clear if you do not feel you can apply them to yourself then you

shouldn't use them. In most places there are probably easy solutions to differing ethics or they are vague

enough that you can alter them to fit your own. From reading this I have realised that if I am ever asked

to conform to ethics that I can't agree with I should just give in because it is company policy. Personal

ethics are just as important workplace ethics!