Workplace Ethics and Honesty

Managers set the tone for workplace ethics while handling leadership activities.

Organizations are increasingly putting more emphasis on hiring ethical employees and encouraging honest and ethical behavior on the job. Due in part to prominent companies making illegal and unethical choices, consumers have heightened expectations for corporate transparency, ethics and social responsibility.

Identification

Honesty and a basic sense of ethics and values are important soft skills in modern business. Companies are scrutinizing backgrounds of prospective employees and responding faster to dishonest behavior by employees.

Types

Employees must also learn and adhere to industry and company-specific ethical standards. Company assets, electronic communication, confidential information, resources and intellectual property are among items employees must protect and handle with care. Gift giving, reciprocity and conflicts of interest are other potential ethical considerations for organizations.

Considerations

Top management support generates a focus on workplace ethics. Along with training and reinforcement of employee ethics, company leaders set an ethical tone by being honest in management responsibilities. Managers must be ethical in dealings with suppliers and partners, using corporate intelligence, and adherence to government and industry regulations.

References

• Character Training International: Ethics for a Modern Workforce
• Santa Clara University: Ethics in Organizations