National Institute of Fashion Technology

Kangra

“PROFESSIONAL ETHICS AND VALUES”

Submitted to: Submitted By:

[Link] Sharma. Prem Ranjan
Damandeep kaur

1|Page
Acknowledgement
In performing our assignment, we have taken the help and guideline of many persons, who
deserve my greatest gratitude. The completion of this assignment gives me much pleasure. We
would like show my heartiest gratitude to Mrs. Purnendu Sharma for giving me good guideline
for assignment throughout making it. We would also like to expand my deepest gratitude to all
those who have directly and indirectly guided us in writing this assignment. Many people,
especially our classmates and seniors have made valuable comment and suggestions on this
proposal which gave me an inspiration to improve our assignment.

2|Page
Table of Contents
[Link] Topic Page No.

1. Summary 1

2. Aim of the assignment 1

3. Professional ethics and values 1-8

4. Ethics 9-13

5. Values 13-17

6. How do we make Ethical Decision 18-19

7. Dealing with Unethical Behavior 19-21

8. Conclusion 21

9. References 22

3|Page
1-Summary
Professional ethics are ethics that refer to the moral rules and regulations governing the
professional world. In other words, they are the moral values that guide the way corporations or
other business makes decisions. Professional ethics are standards or codes of conduct [Link]
people in a specific profession. Ethics related to a professional e.g., a manager of a factory are
known as–professional ethics. Ethics may be internal or external. As regards internal ethics, a
manager must be honest with oneself, since one’s greatest asset is one’s character. And one
should be honest and straightforward with others also, treating them in the same manner in
which one wishes to be treated (external ethics).
Fairness in dealings with compeers and subordinates is mandatory; one should never
discriminate by dispensing special favors or privileges, whether for remuneration or not.
Information coming to a professional confidentially should neither be revealed nor used to the
disadvantage of any subordinate or worker. One should ensure one’s employment right to
privacy. Professional ethics training is often included in career education programs. For instance,
medical assistants are trained on the many ethics issues regarding patient confidentiality. It is
both unethical and unlawful to discuss a patient’s health records with others who are not
involved in the medical care of the individual. What ethics can do, probably government, and law
cannot, to protect society. For example, an ethical oriented management can prevent pollution
and protect the health of their workers, and people in general, much before being mandated by
law.

2-Aim of the assignment

Profession is not only the means to earn one’s livelihood but also the means of one’s evolution
by appropriate participation in the larger order. Through professional education, one acquires
the specific knowledge and skills to make contributions beneficial to the living as well as non-
living beings. The contradictions and dilemmas in profession exist due to the prevailing world
view, in which wealth maximization is perceived to be prime objective. This is what seems to be
ailing the present-day medical profession. The development of professional ethics is a long-term
process to be achieved through appropriate value education. A systematic approach in the field
has been introduced where the effort to understand human reality vis-à-vis the rest of existence,
with the prime focus to discover inherent coexistence and harmony at all levels of existence, has
been propounded. In this article, the process of understanding, one’s own “natural acceptance”!

3-Professional ethics and values

Values refer to the rules which an individual uses in order to make decisions which determine
whether an action is right or wrong. Ethics refers to a formal codified behavior which a particular
group of people upholds (Alavudeen, 2008). As a result, each professional group has specified
values which it follows. For example, there are medical ethics which are followed by the medical
practitioners in order to guide them towards professional practices. Similarly, other fields such

4|Page
 military has their professional ethics in which they uphold the values of loyalty, selfless service
as well as dedication when they are undertaking their duties. Ethics go hand-in hand with
professionalism, thus incase one is described as unethical such an individual is ultimately
described as being unprofessional.

Ethics are primarily used in a working environment in order to promote professionalism. In the
workplace, both the employees as well as the employers should lay emphasis on ethical value
such as values as respect, honesty as well as trust. It is worth noting that, when the management
does not uphold ethical practices, the business venture is bound to fail. When a workplace
promotes ethics, then a remarkable sense of self worth as well as trust is enhanced ultimately
good performance is reported (Kimmel, 2008). Professional ethics enhance a form of
professionalism in the workplace. It is through upholding professional ethics and values that
integrity in workplace is enhanced. Professional values and ethics act as guiding parameters in
career practicing. Whenever an individual joins a particular profession, a formal induction is
undertaken so as to enable the person familiarize with these guiding principles. Nonetheless,
upholding the professional ethics requires individual effort and commitment through positive
interactions.

Ethics are often confused with morals but there are key differences between the two. Morality
is something that defines the difference between the goodness or badness of a thing or rightness
and wrongness of a particular thing and living according to that. On the other hand, ethics is a
kind of a philosophy of how such morality guides the individual and group behavior. Morals, when
violated, are not punishable by law whereas ethics once violated are punishable by the statutory
body of such profession. Similarly, morals are not enforced but ethics are enforced.

3(a)-Principles of Professional ethics

• Adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct
• Strive for impartiality and objectivity when dealing with others
• Communicate openly and honestly with colleagues and clientele
• Maintain confidentiality in professional relationships
• Fulfill commitments in a reliable, responsive and efficient manner
• Be fully accountable for actions, use of resources and financial dealings
• Avoid potential or apparent conflicts of interest
• Show respect and understanding toward all people and honor diversity
• Continue to upgrade professional competences to meet changing needs of families and
communities

3(b)-Objectives of Professional ethics

• To teach applied professional skills such as report writing, record keeping and analyzing
ethical dilemmas in psychological practice
• To give role play experience in court procedures
To teach students to be ethically aware in their professional practice
5|Page
 • To teach the APS Code of Ethics.

Fig 3.1(objectives of Professional ethics)

3(c)-Types of professional ethics

Each profession will have its own different codes of ethics, but some universal ethical
principles may apply to people across all professions. Generally, people in all lines of work
should adhere to a basic list of professional ethics that include the concepts of honesty,
trustworthiness, loyalty, respect for others, adherence to the law, accountability and avoiding
harming others whenever possible.

• Codes of Conduct
Many industries, such as the legal and medical fields, institute professional codes of conduct
that are based on ethical principles. These codes specify standards of behavior for those
involved in the profession. These are often governed by a professional association such as
the American Bar Association that overlooks those in the legal field. The association may
create and modify rules as time goes on and help members of the field understand the
expectations set out for persons in that line of work.
• Judicial and Legal Ethics
Those operating in the legal field must balance their responsibility to defend their client or
prosecute criminals with their ethical obligations to be truthful and uphold the law. While

6|Page
 they have a responsibility to advocate zealously on behalf of their clients, they should never
strive to win at all costs. They also have an ethical obligation to maintain confidentiality and
to avoid conflicts of interest. These all must be balanced against one another, and the legal
field is full of difficult ethical decisions. An attorney, for example, must uphold the law, so if
they know a client intends to lie on the stand, they cannot willingly introduce it as false
evidence. This means that if they cannot convince the client to tell the truth, they may ask to
recuse themselves from the case rather than aid someone in committing perjury
• Medical Code of Ethics
While the Hippocratic Oath may be the most famous ethical code, it is far from the only
ethical standard of the medical field. The American Medical Association first created their
Code of Medical Ethics in 1847 at the founding meeting of the association. Among other
ethical guidelines, doctors and nurses must maintain patient confidentiality, respect the
patient's dignity, be honest in all professional interactions and respect all human rights.
Sometimes, one of these principles may contradict another, for example, when a patient with
a terminal disease wishes to prematurely end her life rather than suffer. While ending a life
can be seen as a form of harm, so can letting a patient suffer and when the patient believes
her dignity will be lost through suffering, a doctor may want to aid her or he may feel
comfortable helping anyone end their life for any reason.
• Ethics and the Media
A free press is a cornerstone of the American Constitution, but the value of a free press able
to expose governmental and institutional corruption is greatly reduced when the public
doesn't trust the media. While some publications and journalists ignore these ethical
standards to earn more money through sensationalist or even outright dishonest reporting,
the majority of publications attempt to uphold public trust in the media through ethical
reporting.
• Engineering's Ethical Code
After hearing about scandals like Apple intentionally designing products to fail after the
warranty expires, it's no wonder that The National Society of Professional Engineers has their
own code of ethics. The organization created this code in an attempt to promote the
principles of honesty, impartiality, fairness and equity to best protect the public health, safety
and welfare. As such, engineers are asked to only perform services in the areas of their
competence, issue public statements only in a truthful and objective manner and to avoid
deceptive acts. Like many professional organizations, the NSPE requires its members to
conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically and lawfully to maintain the reputation
and honor of the profession.
• The Ethics of Realtors
The National Association of Realtors seeks to eliminate practices that may damage the public
or bring discredit to the real estate industry. As such, their Code of Ethics and Standard
Practices seeks to prevent fraud, misappropriation of funds and discrimination. In addition,
the code urges realtors to avoid gaining an unfair advantage over competitors and to refrain
from making unsolicited comments about one another.

7|Page
3(d)-Uses of Professional ethics
Improvement of the cognitive skills (skills of the intellect in thinking clearly)

• Moral awareness (proficiency in recognizing moral problems in engineering)

• Cogent moral reasoning (comprehending, assessing different views)
• Moral coherence (forming consistent viewpoints based on facts)
• Moral imagination (searching beyond obvious the alternative responses to issues and
being receptive to creative solutions)
• Moral communication, to express and support one ‘s views to others.

To act in morally desirable ways, towards moral commitment and responsible conduct

• Moral reasonableness i.e., willing and able to be morally responsible.

• Respect for persons, which means showing concern for the well-being of others & self.
• Tolerance of diversity i.e., respect for ethnic and religious differences, and acceptance of
reasonable differences in moral perspectives.
• Moral hope i.e., believing in using rational dialogue for resolving moral conflicts.
• Integrity, which means moral integrity, and integrating one ‘s professional life and
personal convictions.

Fig 3.2(Uses of Professional ethics)

8|Page
4-Ethics
Whenever we make a choice, it was possible for us to have made a different one. The Danish
philosopher Soren Kierkegaard captures this sense when he describes standing on the edge of a
cliff. The only thing that prevents us from falling into the void is us – our choice to do otherwise.
Ethics is only possible because we can act against our nature, based on our conscience. It stops
us from simply describing what is likely to happen, and allows us to make judgements about
what should happen. Of all the ways you might act, which is the best? Of all the possibilities,
which one should you bring into reality? That’s the question ethics seeks to answer.

Fig 4.1(Ethics in life)

Of course, you can only answer that question if you dare to ask it. It’s comfortable, safe and pretty
common to do what’s always been done – pass responsibility onto others or stick with the status
quo. Ethics asks us to take responsibility for our beliefs and our actions, and live a life that’s our
own. Ethics isn’t the only way to define what the ‘best’ decision might look like. Some might see
it as the one that advances their own goals and interests, or makes the most money. Others may
focus on what’s likely to be the most popular choice. At the heart of these is a nugget of ethics,
but each is a distraction from the questions that matter most. Ethics defines the best option as
the one which best achieves what is good, right and consistent with the nature of the things in
question.
Although ethics has always been viewed as a branch of philosophy, its all-embracing practical
nature links it with many other areas of study,
including anthropology, biology, economics, history, politics, sociology, and theology. Yet, ethics
remains distinct from such disciplines because it is not a matter of factual knowledge in the way
that the sciences and other branches of inquiry are. Rather, it has to do with determining the
nature of normative theories and applying these sets of principles to practical moral problems.

4(a)-Types of ethics
• Descriptive Ethics

9|Page
 Descriptive ethics deals with what people actually believe (or made to believe) to be right or
wrong, and accordingly holds up the human actions acceptable or not acceptable or
punishable under a custom or law. However, customs and laws keep changing from time to
time and from society to society. The societies have structured their moral principles as per
changing time and have expected people to behave accordingly. Due to this, descriptive
ethics is also called comparative ethics because it compares the ethics or past and present;
ethics of one society and other. It also takes inputs from other disciplines such as
anthropology, psychology, sociology and history to explain the moral right or wrong.
• Normative Ethics
Normative Ethics deals with “norms” or set of considerations how one should act. Thus, it’s
a study of “ethical action” and sets out the rightness or wrongness of the actions. It is also
called prescriptive ethics because it rests on the principles which determine whether an
action is right or wrong. The Golden rule of normative ethics is “doing to other as we want
them to do to us “. Since we don’t want our neighbors to throw stones through our glass
window, then it will not be wise to first throw stone through a neighbor’s window. Based on
this reasoning, anything such as harassing, victimizing, abusing or assaulting someone is
wrong. Normative ethics also provides justification for punishing a person who disturbs social
and moral order.
• Meta Ethics
Meta Ethics or “analytical ethics” deals with the origin of the ethical concepts themselves. It
does not consider whether an action is good or bad, right or wrong. Rather, its questions –
what goodness or rightness or morality itself is? It is basically a highly abstract way of thinking
about ethics. The key theories in meta-ethics include naturalism, non-naturalism, emotivism
and prescriptivism.
Naturalists and non-naturalists believe that moral language is cognitive and can be known to
be true or false. Emotivity deny that moral utterances are cognitive, holding that they consist
of emotional expressions of approval or disapproval and that the nature of moral reasoning
and justification must be reinterpreted to take this essential characteristic of moral
utterances into account. Prescriptivists take a somewhat similar approach, arguing that moral
judgments are prescriptions or prohibitions of action, rather than statements of fact about
the world.
• Applied Ethics
Applied ethics deals with the philosophical examination, from a moral standpoint, of
particular issues in private and public life which are matters of moral judgment. This branch
of ethics is most important for professionals in different walks of life including doctors,
teachers, administrators, rulers and so on. There are six key domains of applied ethics
viz. Decision ethics {ethical decision
makingprocess}, Professionalethics {forgoodprofessionalism}, Clinical Ethics {good clinical
practices}, Business Ethics {good business practices}, Organizational ethics {ethics within and
among organizations} and social ethics. It deals with the rightness or wrongness of social,
economical, cultural, religious issues also. For example, euthanasia, child labor, abortion etc.

10 | P a g e
 Fig 4.2(Types of ethics)

4(b)-Why do we need ethics

The First reason is that we may get more light for our daily problems. We often encounter moral
dilemma in our life. We some time reach a point that as if we are at a cross road, either going to
the right or to the left, there is no better choice. Going to the right is wrong and going to the left
is also wrong. Within such situation, one has to decide because not deciding would mean avoiding
responsibility and it would be morally wrong. Thus, the concern is how are we going to decide in
dealing with those problems? On what ground are we going to decide? Ethics will guide us in
those situations. Thus, ethics play an important role to guide our decision in our daily
problems. Second reason is that it makes clearer to us why one act is better than another. It is
only through ethics we can compare two acts or persons why one is good and is bad. Third reason
is that Morality is the best way of living. Fourth reason is that morality helps us to see what are
the prevalent sins and moral dangers of our day and thus arouse us to put the weight of our
blame and praise where they are needed.

The purpose of ethic was clear at the beginning. The goal of a theory of ethics was to determine
what is good, both for the individual and for the society as a whole. For the Greeks, Ethics was to
develop virtuous and moral character. They believe that such character would make one know
the right thing to do and live the right way of life. Later, philosophers have taken different
positions in defining what is good, on how to deal with conflicting priorities of individuals versus
the whole, over the universality of ethical principles versus “situation ethics” in which what is
right depends upon the circumstances rather than on some general law and over whether
goodness is determined by the results of the action or the means by results are achieved
(relativism, universalism, Kantianism).

4(c)-Importance of ethics in a person’s life

11 | P a g e
 For citizens, even for those of us with no aspirations in a career in law enforcement, morality and
integrity are important characteristics to demonstrate. We instinctively know that it is good to
be moral and act with integrity, but by coming to an understanding of the reasons for morality
and integrity, we will be motivated to champion such behavior. Among the reasons to be moral
and integral, regardless of occupation are to:

• Make society better. When we help make society better, we are rewarded with also
making better own lives and the lives of our families and friends. Without moral conduct,
society would be a miserable place.
• Treat everyone equally. Equality is a cornerstone of most Western democracies, where all
individuals are afforded the same rights. This is not possible without the majority of citizens
behaving in a moral manner.
• Secure meaningful employment. Often employers will look at a person’ past behavior as a
predictor of future behavior. Someone who has a history of immoral behavior will have
difficulty securing employment in a meaningful job, as that person may not be trusted.
• Succeed at business. If you are employed in an occupation in which there you must rely on
others, your moral conduct will determine the degree of goodwill that you receive from
others. Businesses that have a checkered moral history are typically viewed with caution and
are unlikely to attract new customers through word of mouth, and therefore are unlikely to
prosper. This is especially the case where social media makes customer reviews readily
accessible.
• Lessen stress. When we make immoral decisions, we tend to feel uncomfortable and
concerned about our decision making. Making the right moral decision, or taking a principled
perspective on an issue, reduces stress.

4(d)-Ethics at workplace
Our actions affect not only ourselves, but also those around us. Many of our professional
decisions involve ethics. If we tell a lie, we can lose someone’s trust and undermine our own
integrity. If we use shoddy materials or workmanship on the job, we can jeopardize the safety of
others. Questions of morality and ethics can be found at all levels of society. Ethical behavior is
equally important in the workplace as it is in our personal lives. Everywhere business is
conducted, ethics matters. Ethics is not just how we think and act. It is also about character.
Character drives what we do when no one is looking. Each person has the ability to build, change,
or even destroy his or her own character. We can build our character through the way we live—
by thinking good thoughts and performing good acts. Similarly, bad thoughts and behavior can
destroy our character.

12 | P a g e
 Fig 4.3(Ethics at workplace)

A person with character has high morals and will act morally in all situations by choice, not force.
A person with character will honor his or her commitments. Character pertains to organizations,
as well. A company with high character is worthy of trust and respect, acts honestly, and stands
by its promises.

Many professions and corporations have developed codes of ethics to address their unique
business situations. In fact, 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies and nearly half of all
corporations have codes of ethics that can be applied to all employees. By developing a code of
ethics, an organization makes it clear that employees and members cannot claim ignorance as a
defense for unethical conduct. Many professions and corporations have developed codes of
ethics to address their unique business situations. In fact, 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies
and nearly half of all corporations have codes of ethics that can be applied to all employees. By
developing a code of ethics, an organization makes it clear that employees and members cannot
claim ignorance as a defense for unethical conduct.

5-Values
Values are individual beliefs that motivate people to act one way or another. They serve as a
guide for human behavior.

Generally, people are predisposed to adopt the values that they are raised with. People also tend
to believe that those values are “right” because they are the values of their particular culture.
Ethical decision-making often involves weighing values against each other and choosing which
values to elevate. Conflicts can result when people have different values, leading to a clash of
preferences and priorities.

Some values have intrinsic worth, such as love, truth, and freedom. Other values, such as
ambition, responsibility, and courage, describe traits or behaviors that are instrumental as means
to an end. Still other values are considered sacred and are moral imperatives for those who
believe in them. Sacred values will seldom be compromised because they are perceived as duties

13 | P a g e
 rather than as factors to be weighed in decision-making. For example, for some people, their
nation’s flag may represent a sacred value. But for others, the flag may just be a piece of cloth.

So, whether values are sacred, have intrinsic worth, or are a means to an end, values vary among
individuals and across cultures and time. However, values are universally recognized as a driving
force in ethical decision-making.

5(a)-Origin
Human values originate in everything that makes us human: our biology and society. Values are
formed in their embryonic state by our human needs, wants, and desires before they are born
from the womb of a particular social group, whose core values are determined by its purpose:

• In a tribe, core values may be courage, loyalty, and honesty because the purpose of a tribe is
to stay together and survive.
• In a sports team, core values may be discipline, mental toughness, and competitiveness
because the purpose of a sports team is to train and win. The same holds for military platoons.
• In a school class, core values may be popularity, sociability, and emotional intelligence
because the purpose of a school class is to develop social skills.
• In a college class, core values may be wit, knowledgeability, and rationality because the
purpose of a college class is to debate and share knowledge.
• In a monastery, core values may be simplicity, quietness, and punctuality because the
purpose of a monastery is to pray.
• In a church, core values may be humility, devotion, and self-restraint because the purpose of
a church is to subdue.
• In a poor nation, core values may be natality, patriarchy, and security because the purpose
of a poor nation is to reproduce and survive.
• In a company, core values may be innovation, perseverance, and assertiveness because the
purpose of a company is to make deals and profit.

More broadly, your values depend on all your social identities, and only insofar as you have
multiple social identities can your value system can be individualistic. For example, if you belong
to a particular gender, age group, family, culture, ethnicity, company, university, political party,
football team, and hunting club, you have multiple social identities and thus a complex value
system that is uniquely your own. However, no single value will ever be uniquely your own
because no value exists outside of a particular community. “Although a man’s value system may
be personal, every value within that system is communal.”

5(b)-Types of human values

• Individualistic Values
The most inherent value of a person is individualistic which means valuing the self over
anything else in the world. This is also the most natural value which is inherent in every animal

14 | P a g e
 of the world. The animals live for themselves without much bothering about the other
animals. The only exception would be the mother animal which takes care of her child animal
till the child grows up sufficiently to support itself. The modern world has been moving more
and more towards individualistic values where the interest of the individual is considered to
be the most "right" and needs to be protected over everything else. The individualistic value
support freedom as it believes that every person has the right to decide what is good for him.
Every child starts with individualistic values and he wants everything in the world for the self
and wants everyone to serve him. When the need of the child is not satisfied, he cries and do
everything to get the need satisfied.
• Family Values
The human specie may be the most powerful specie in the earth but it is also true that human
specie is also the weakest specie. A human child does not learn to even walk for one year. If
the child of the man is allowed to survive of its own, it just can not survive. The support of
family is must for the growth of every human child. It is for this reason that human specie
over the year has invented the concept of family that lives like one unit and supports a new
born child till it becomes strong enough to support itself.
The concept of family has given rise to the family value where a family is considered to be the
basic unit of the society instead of the individual. The family has right and power to control
the other member of the family. In a family system, the members of the family divide their
work in a way that all members perform complementary functions rather than performing
same functions.
• Professional Values
A society is made of not only families which are natural but also by origination which are
artificially created to fulfill a specific requirement of the society. The government is one of
the most important organizations which had been created to bring order in the society. The
government is further divided into different departments like police, revenue, defense etc.
which are needed to keep the country united and protect it from external aggression. There
are many other organizations which are run by private persons or bodies which produce
goods and provide service to the people of the nation and the world. Every person has to join
an origination to earn his livelihood and to contribute to the society. These organizations are
designed to serve a specialized function of the society and thus need a set of value to keep
all members of the organization motivated and united.
• National Values
The world today is divided into a number of countries and each country is sovereign and
independent. However, in recent years the countries have started behaving like family
members as the independence is gradually being replaced by interdependence in the
globalize economies. If China is emerging as the manufacturing hub of the world, India has
become the outsourcing and out-shoring hub of the world from where the different services
are being provided to the world. Arab world is producing oil for the world and USA has taken
the leadership role in creation of the knowledge and the Information Technology for the
world. Each country is gradually becoming specialist in some specific task and getting the rest

15 | P a g e
 of the requirements fulfilled from the other countries of the world. The national values are
often codified in their laws that seek to grant equality and justice to all its citizens. There, is
wide diversity in these laws as the requirement of each country is different. The violation of
national values is treated criminal acts which are punished by the State. Thus, the countries
with strong national values enforce their laws very severely as they keep the interest of the
country over the interest of the individual.
• Moral Values
While the legal values of a country or society is documented and enforced, these are
insufficient for the smooth functioning of the state. The ideal state is one where the State
does not have to enforce any law as the citizens voluntarily follow the laws of the land.
However, this rarely happens since all the State laws are drafted by the people who are in
power or those who have influence on powerful people. These powerful people ensure that
laws are drafted in their favor of few rather than in the favor of the masses. Thus, over a
period of time, the enforcement of laws creates a class of people who are extremely powerful
and rich while the majority population live the life of haplessness and poverty.
• Spiritual Values
All values adopted by men create exclusivity in human beings as these values are different
for every society and indeed for every man. The values are thus the source of conflicts in the
world as every person or nation believes strongly in their values as right. Yet all these values
are non-permanent and transient which changes with time and space. The values of the
present generation are not same as the value of the previous generation. Yet there is some
ingredient in all values that never changes. It has remained same in long years of human
evolution. These values are eternal as they never change. Therefore, often people call such
values as spiritual or divine as it never dies and its origin too is not known.

5(c)-workplace values
Values are important because they guide our beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. If you continuously
compromise your values in your decision-making, the detriments to your own morale are
undeniable. Recognizing, understanding, and staying loyal to your values is therefore one of the
most important efforts any human being can take, and is equally as important when it comes to
the workplace. The values and ethics of a business are the moral code by which the business
operates. While no business can control the actions of every employee, it can define expectations
and develop procedures for violations. Many organizations have similar areas of focus when it
comes to values and ethics.

These include but aren't limited to honesty, accountability, respect, caring and reliability. Values
and ethics should be defined in an organization's bylaws, mission statement, vision statement
and policies.

• Internal Business Practices

When it comes to internal business practices, values and ethics refer to the expectations
among employees. These practices apply to both manager/subordinate relationships and co-

16 | P a g e
 worker interactions. People who work together often develop friendships, but co-workers
can also develop negative feelings about others on the team.
• Defining Appropriate and Acceptable Behavior
Internal business practices must define appropriate and acceptable behavior. Some
companies explicitly forbid dating among co-workers. Other companies have policies that
prohibit alcohol at any company party or internal function. These rules are designed to avert
potential problems.
• Employee Education and Training
Some employers hold mandatory diversity or sexual harassment training to educate
employees on the most common types of inappropriate behavior. Education and coaching
policies are growing as pre-emptive actions.
• Protocol to Deal with Problems
Should problems arise, protocol must be outlined to deal with it. A company's values might
dictate the amount of tolerance regarding inappropriate behavior. Where one company may
have a series of warnings, additional training and support, another company might set hard
lines where disciplinary action is swift and often severe.
• Consumer Interaction with the Organization
Consumers are affected by how an organization presents itself and its people daily. This often
starts with initial contact with consumers. The way a receptionist answers the phone at a law
firm sets the tone for clients. The law firm might value old-fashioned respect and insist clients
be referred to by last name as "Mr. Jones" rather than "John," for example.
Values might start with small items like how to answer a phone, but they permeate into
everything a company does. Honesty and integrity are values touted by companies far and
wide, but not every company stands behind its words. For example, when a company has a
"no questions asked guarantee" that it honors, the company builds consumer confidence.
• Advertising Values and Ethics
Advertising has one job, which is to get consumers in the door (or to the website) of a
business. There are a lot of tactics advertising can use to achieve this. Companies that stand
by their values and ethics don't allow misleading advertising. Other ways that businesses
draw the line is with content.

Fig 5.1(Some workplace ethics)

17 | P a g e
6-How do we make ethical decisions
• Create a code of ethics and consult it before making business decisions. A formal code of ethics
can help you and your employees make decisions more quickly by conforming to a set of rules to
which everyone agrees. Write your code of ethics as generally or specifically as you would like,
and format it as a numbered list. Before making a decision, scrutinize each alternative by going
down the list and determining whether the alternative adheres to the code.

• Consider the effects of your decisions on all stakeholders. Decisions are often made to address
one or a small number of issues, such as revenue growth, cost control or client-specific issues, but
it is important to realize the wider implications of your decisions on everyone affected. Business
decisions made in the best interest of stockholders, for example, can have effects on employees,
clients, suppliers, people living and working near your operations, the natural environment and
even future generations of people.
Consider how stakeholders will be affected if the decision turns out the way you plan, and how
they will be affected if things go wrong.

• Use industry regulations as a starting point when making decisions. A number of industries,
including construction and financial services, are highly regulated to ensure the ethical operation
of all companies. Regulations generally require a minimum level of ethical consideration,
however, and it is possible for companies to operate within legal boundaries while still acting
unethically. Build your organization to exceed laws and regulations, going further than your
competitors to ensure that all stakeholders are treated equitably, rather than simply conforming
to minimum standards.

Fig 6.1(Ethical decision making)

• Consult others when making decisions with widespread consequences. Gaining a fresh
perspective on your dilemma can help to shed light on possibilities and impacts of which you are
unaware. You can ask for help in generating options and in choosing which option to pursue, or
you can seek advice concerning an option that you have already chosen before implementing it.

18 | P a g e
 • Review the results of your past business decisions, and learn from your mistakes. According
to [Link], managers should always reflect on the outcomes of their decisions. No one can make
perfect decisions all of the time, although making consistently ethical decisions is more easily
accomplished than making consistently successful or profitable ones. If you have made and
implemented a decision with questionable ethical implications, act quickly to resolve the matter
by making restitution to everyone affected and work to counteract the decision's effects.

6(a)-Ethical dilemma

Ethical dilemmas are especially significant in professional life, as they frequently occur in the
workplace. Some companies and professional

organizations (e.g., CFA) adhere to their own codes of conduct and ethical standards. Violation
of the standards may lead to disciplinary sanctions. Almost every aspect of business can become
a possible ground for ethical dilemmas. It may include relationships with co-workers,
management, clients, and business partners. People’s inability to determine the optimal solution
to such dilemmas in a professional setting may result in serious consequences for businesses and
organizations. The situation may be common in companies that value results the most.

In order to solve ethical problems, companies and organizations should develop strict ethical
standards for their employees. Every company must demonstrate its concerns regarding the
ethical norms within the organization. In addition, companies may provide ethical training for
their employees.

6(b)-How to solve ethical dilemma

• Refute the paradox (dilemma): The situation must be carefully analyzed. In some cases,
the existence of the dilemma can be logically refuted.
• Value theory approach: Choose the alternative that offers the greater good or the lesser
evil.
• Find alternative solutions: In some cases, the problem can be reconsidered, and new
alternative solutions may arise.

6(c)-Examples of ethical dilemma

• Taking credit for others’ work
• Offering a client, a worse product for your own profit
• Utilizing inside knowledge for your own profit

7- Consequences of unethical behavior

Ethical rules have become an important part of the business and professional world. Ethical
codes are usually created to help a profession define minimum and expected standards of ethical
conduct by its members. Ethical codes are usually created by a state or national organization,
and typically enforced according to guidelines within the organization. A wide range of groups

19 | P a g e
 have adopted ethical codes, including lawyers, doctors, accountants, real estate professionals,
teachers, journalists, social workers and engineers. The ethical standards allow clients and peers
to rely on the fitness and honor of that professional’s conduct in the workplace, and confident
that remedies will be available when those standards are not upheld.

Civil courts allow people to sue for the tort of negligence when they suffer damages because the
conduct of other falls below a reasonable standard of care. Typically, a reasonable standard of
care is defined by the conduct of an average individual in a similar circumstance. Failing to get
your car’s brakes fixed, despite knowledge that they won’t stop the car, is an obvious negligent
act. It is more difficult to define a reasonable standard of care for a person acting in a professional
capacity. Usually, there is a dispute between members of the profession as to whether the act
was negligent or not. Whether an act is negligent becomes even more difficult when a
professional is sued for malpractice based on a violation of an ethics code.

Until recently, courts viewed ethical codes as aspirational for professionals in a particular
field. Recently, however, some state courts have determined that ethical rules have legal
significance and that failing to adhere to ethical standards can result in court-imposed civil
liability, in addition to discipline from the professional

organization. Unfortunately, there has been no uniform determination by courts whether ethics
codes should be followed or must be followed. Some courts have accepted ethical rules as a
standard of practice and use the rules to determine professional responsibility, while others
dismiss them as merely suggestions.

It is unlikely that courts will ever unify regarding the import of ethical rules in civil matters. Part
of the problem with a uniform rule is that ethical codes from industry to industry, and even from
rule to rule, carry different weight as to what must be followed and what should be
followed. Further complicating the matter is that most organizations do not require membership
or participation by all members of that particular profession. The courts have yet to answer
whether ethical guidelines should apply to members of the profession who do not belong to the
organization that created the guidelines.

In all of the uncertainty, professionals should remain aware that ethical guidelines may have legal
consequences. Behaving ethically may not only avoid professional discipline, but civil litigation
as well.

7(a)-Dealing with unethical behavior at workplace

• Don’t Take Action without Evidence
Before you do anything, you need to make sure you know the facts. You might suspect
something, but you can’t go around accusing people of things without evidence. First of all,
you need to check that the behavior you suspect is unethical. It might be against industry
practices or perhaps company policy. Secondly, you need to know that the person is doing it.
You should document the behavior and try to find witnesses to it as well. You will then have
evidence you can bring to the person or authority you want to report it to.
20 | P a g e
 • Follow Company Procedure
If you can, you should follow company procedure on reporting unethical behavior. You might
have had training in dealing with these issues. Or you might have an employee handbook you
can look at for advice. If you want to report the behavior of a colleague, you should go to your
supervisor. However, if it is your supervisor behaving unethically, you should report to
someone above them. If you feel that you aren’t getting anywhere, moving up the hierarchy
of your company can be a good idea. However, before escalating, make sure you are clear on
company policy.
• When the Issue Goes Beyond Being Unethical
Sometimes, the issue might go further than being unethical; it could also be illegal. In these
cases, you might need to deal with things differently. Perhaps the people behaving illegally
are higher-ups in the company. If you raise the alarm, this is known as whistleblowing. If you
decide to take action, it’s a good idea to have legal representation. You can find an attorney
specializing in whistleblowers and fraud who can give you the protection you need.
Whistleblowing can sometimes be dangerous for your career, so seeking legal help is
important.
• Consider Going Elsewhere
Occasionally, it might turn out that the job just isn’t for you. The company might not be willing
to do anything about unethical behavior. It might just be that the behavior goes against your
personal morals. The best thing to do in this situation might be to
move on and find another job. If you want to stay with the company, switching departments
could also be an option. It’s not easy to know how to deal with unethical behavior. You might
have to confront some heavy issues or deal with difficult people. But if you think it’s worth it,
you should consider taking action.

8-Conclusion
Workplace ethics ensures positive ambience at the workplace. Workplace ethics leads to happy
and satisfied employees who enjoy coming to work rather than treating it as a mere source of
burden. Employees also develop a feeling of loyalty and attachment towards the organization.

Organizations need to have fool-proof systems to measure the performances of individuals.

Appraisal system needs to be designed keeping in mind employee’s performance throughout the
year and his/her career growth. Periodic reviews are essential. It is mandatory for superiors to
know what their subordinates are up to. You need to know who all are going on the right track
and who all need that extra push. Workplace ethics ensures management guides and mentors
their employees well. Appraisal and salary hikes should not happen just for the name sake.
Workplace ethics is important as it enables management to treat all employees as equal and
think from their perspective as well. Employees must have a say in their appraisal system.
Transparency is essential.

21 | P a g e
9- References
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
behavior/
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
sFDCG8fW7Tiz6Vt9hRFEiUQ:1599304966964&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKE
wihx8Wj89HrAhXkzTgGHd7aDycQ_AUoAnoECBgQAg&biw=360&bih=646&dpr=2#imgrc=qI
Mf5ZFodZRSmM
• [Link]
• [Link]
• [Link]
PSY60004/local
• [Link]

22 | P a g e