Pinnacle Group

Archive: Ethics in the Workplace

Implementing Ethics Practices

Are any of the following behaviors ones you consider to be unethical?
Taking a sick day when not actually ill? Sure that’s wrong, but what if it’s one of your most valuable employees who works really hard all the time?

Using company technology for personal use? Of course making invitations to your New Year’s Eve party on the company’s color printer is wrong but what about when your spouse or relative emails you with a question?

Participating in betting pools? What about the impending birth of co-worker’s child?

More and more managers are faced with many gray areas as to what is ethical behavior in the workplace. While words like “tax evasion, fraud and laundering” are universally considered negative, advancements in technology and variations in organizational culture have created a new frontier for management to navigate.

As a leader in your business, how are you ensuring that ethical practices are in place at your company or organization? Pinnacle Group suggests the following three steps to keep pace with a constantly changing paradigm:

1. Create and highlight the core values of your organization: What does your company value? Incorporate those values into recruiting materials, interview questions, performance reviews and professional development opportunities. Recruiting individuals who appreciate those values will be the first step in ensuring the values are shared and strengthened.

2. Define key ethical issues for your organization: What are the areas most likely to pose an ethical dilemma in your organization? Spell them out in your employee handbook. The more clear the policy, the easier it is to provide feedback.

3. Build ownership by requesting feedback: What does the rest of your team think about the current policies? What questions exist? What new policies might be becoming increasingly needed in your organization?

An investment in your ethics practices will support you in:

Recruiting and retaining top-quality people;
fostering a more satisfying and productive working environment;
building and sustaining your business’ reputation within the community
providing ethical guidance and resources for employees prior to making difficult decisions; and
aligning the work efforts of staff with the company’s broader mission and vision.

Remember, Pinnacle Group is here to help. Contact Tricia Cellucci at 484.636.0027 x117 or at pcellucci@pinnaclegroupbrs.com for more information on beginning your ethics program today.

What is the driving motivation behind unethical behavior?

In 2007, Deloitte and Touche conducted a study on Ethics and Workplace of more than 1,000 full-time or part-time respondents nationwide. Their results showed the following reasons why people make unethical decisions in the workplace:

80% lack of personal integrity
60% job dissatisfaction
44% financial rewards (bonus/salary increase)
41% pressure to meet goals
39% no knowledge of the business’ Code of Conduct

The behavior of management (42%) and direct supervisors (36%), coupled with positive reinforcement for ethical behavior (30%), are ranked as top factors to promoting an ethical workplace. One of the roles that HR has in promoting ethics in the workplace is to communicate to top managers the need to establish and model ethical standards as well as communicate criteria that determines ethical behavior.

Archived Newsletters