CHARACTER
IN THE
WORKPLACE
Gerri Warden
Fleet and Family Support Center
Pascagoula, MS 1
STORYTIME
Accept the Deal
Thank you but “No”
Refuse and express
irritation at dishonesty
Refuse, express irritation
& report to insurance
company
2
WHAT IS ETHICS?
o Standards of duty and virtue that
indicate how we should behave.
o Ethics is about right and wrong
and how an honorable person should
behave.
o Ethics is about being a good
person.
o Is vs. Ought
3
It’s not the same as
values.
Ethics is what you do when no
one else is watching.
Imagine you were invisible and
were able to do anything
without consequences or
repercussions.
4
WHY BE ETHICAL?
• It’s just good business
• It’s the smart thing to do
CARING TRUSTWORTHINESS
RESPONSIBILITY RESPECT
CITIZENSHIP FAIRNESS
5
Aspen Declaration
In 1992 an eminent and diverse group
of educators, youth leaders, and
ethicists from 30 segments of our
nation issued the Aspen Declaration, a
document asserting the primacy of six
core ethical values that “transcend
cultural, religious and socioeconomic
differences.”
6
The Six Pillars of Character
7
OUR WORKPLACE
CHARACTER
SYSTEM
SKILLS
We can always set the ethical bar higher!! 8
TRUSTWORTHY
• INTEGRITY
• HONESTY
• PROMISE-KEEPING
• LOYALTY
9
RESPECT
• IT IS OUR DUTY TO TREAT
EVERYONE WITH RESPECT
• Courtesy
• Politeness
• Dignity
• Value the differences they bring into our
workplace
• Tolerance (This can be hard)
10
RESPONSIBILITY
• Don’t make excuses
• Accept responsibility for decisions
• Fulfill all obligations
• DO NOT over-promise
“Life is full of choices—what you do and don’t do
matters”
“Choosing not to choose is a choice.”
11
FAIRNESS
• Listen
• Make decisions based on careful and
appropriate consideration
Who do we let go?
12
CARING
• Compassion and concern for others
• Kindness and consideration
• Mercy and forgiveness
• Empathy
• Gratitude and Expressed Thanks
13
CITIZENSHIP
• Play by the rules
• Respect authority
• Do your share
• Within the workplace keep proper records
• Follow office procedures
• Be a good office neighbor and pursue the
common good
14
Taking it to work.
What Can the Business
Community Do?
16
Expect all employees to maintain
these ethics
• Trustworthiness
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Fairness
• Caring
• Citizenship
17
Trustworthiness
• Try to be honest and ethical in all
business dealings.
• Never reveal proprietary information.
• Do not tolerate lying, stealing or
deception.
18
Respect
• Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness
and dignity, valuing individual and
cultural differences in our workplace
and among those we serve.
• Listen to and communicate openly with
each other and with the customers in
order to build mutual respect and long-
term working relationships.
19
Responsibility
• Do not make excuses.
• Accept responsibility for our
workplace decisions.
• Fulfill all obligations.
• Do not over-promise our customers.
20
Fairness
• Listen intently to the concerns of the
customers, employees and vendors.
• Listen to the employees and make
decisions that affect them only after
careful and appropriate
consideration.
21
Caring
• Truly care about each and every
customer, employee and vendor.
• Commit to build long-lasting
relationships to mutual benefit.
22
Citizenship
• Play by the rules.
• Keep proper records and follow
financial reporting procedures.
• Follow all laws and regulations
… to the tee.
23
Listen for the bells
warning you of an
ethical issue.
How will your decision look in the
light? Could a reasonable fair-
minded person conclude you acted
improperly?
24
Identify the Problems
Fill the gaps!
Close gaps deliberately!
GAP
Most of us overestimate
The cost of doing the right
Thing---and underestimate the GAP
GAP
Cost of failing to do so.
25
