Sources That Influence Professional Ethics
Professional ethics are standards of moral conduct related to a business or enterprise. Each profession is free to set its own code of ethics, and most members are aware of these ethics by the time they enter the business. However, the sources that influence what the codes are, as well as how and when they are followed, are varied. The sources can even vary over the professional's lifetime.
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Parents
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Parents are a source of professional ethics. This is especially apparent when one or more of the parents is a member of the profession that the child enters. If children see their parents behaving ethically in business dealings, the children are likely to model this behavior in their own working life. But even if the child decides to pursue another line of work, seeing their parents act morally in everyday situations can lead them to mirror those actions in many aspects of life, including their professional one.
Mentors
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Mentors in the profession can also be a source of ethics. When young professionals are just starting out in their businesses, they are especially impressionable and eager to please their mentors. If these mentors demonstrate proper ethics, the young professionals may learn to do the same.
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Colleagues
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Colleagues are another source of professional ethics, one that can help keep co-workers in line if they are tempted to violate professional standards. The approval and supervision of peers are important factors in most group situations and can mean the difference between a professional choosing to be ethical--or not.
Regulators
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Industry regulators also have an important role in setting ethical standards. They make rules and procedures mandatory, so if professionals want to keep operating their businesses ethically (and legally), they must incorporate the regulators' wishes into their operations.
Clients
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Clients can also determine which ethical standards a professional follows. If clients voice enough complaints or concerns (or file enough lawsuits), professionals must start listening to their requests for stronger or different ethics if they hope to retain customer business.
Religion
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Finally, a professional's religion or spiritual practices can be a rich source of professional ethics. Many established religions have particular rules for dealing ethically in business. Pressure from fellow congregants to behave ethically, similar to that of colleagues, can also be a factor.
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References
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