ETHICS AT WORK: Your Attitude and Responsibilities

1. ETHICS AT WORK: Your Attitude and Responsibilities Human Relations What is ethics? The code of moral principles and values that govern the behaviors of a person or group with respect to what is right or wrong.

2. What is an ethical dilemma? Human Relations • A situation that arises when all alternative choices or behaviors have been deemed undesirable. • Potentially negative ethical consequences, making it difficult to distinguish right from wrong.

3. Ethical dilemma - examples Human Relations • McDonalds uses beef flavor & tells Hindus it doesn’t. • Styrofoam vs. paper

4. Ethical Decision Making Human Relations • Most ethical dilemmas involve: • A conflict between needs of the part & whole. • The individual versus the organization. • The organization versus society as a whole.

5. Approaches forEthical Decision Making Human Relations • Utilitarian Approach • Individualism Approach • Moral-Rights Approach • Justice Approach

6. Utilitarian Approach Human Relations • Moral behavior produces the greatest good for the greatest number. • Critics fear a “Big Brother” approach and ask if the common good is squeezing the life out of the individual.

7. Human Relations Individualism Approach • Acts are moral when they promote the individual's best long-term interests, which ultimately leads to the greater good. • Individual self-direction paramount. • Individualism is believed to lead to honesty & integrity since that works best in the long run.

8. Human Relations Moral-Rights Approach • Moral decisions are those that best maintain the rights of those people affected by them. • An ethical decision is one that avoids interfering with the fundamental rights of others.

9. Human Relations “Moral Rights” The right of free consent The right to privacy The right of freedom of conscience The right of free speech The right to due process The right to life & safety

10. Human Relations Justice Approach • Moral Decisions must be based on standards of equity, fairness, and impartiality. • Three types of Justice Approaches: • Distributive Justice • Procedural Justice • Compensatory Justice

11. Distributive Justice Human Relations • Treatment of people should not be based on arbitrary characteristics. • People should be treated differently in proportion to the differences among them. Evenly Distributed

12. Procedural Justice Human Relations • Rules should be clearly stated. • Rules should be consistently and impartially enforced. Rules and Procedures Govern

13. Human Relations Compensatory Justice • Individuals should not be held responsible for matters they have no control over. • Individuals should be compensated for the cost of their injuries by the party responsible. Even it Out

14. Human Relations When faced with a tough decision, see if it CLICKS: • Consequences—What will be the consequences of my actions? • Legal—Is it legal? • Image—Would I like to see this on the front page of the newspaper? • Culture—Does it support my organization’s culture and values? • Knot—Does it cause a knot in my stomach? Source: Lee Gardenswartz and Anita Row, Gardenswartz & Rowe, Los Angeles, CA and Patricia Digh, Realwork, Washington, D.C.

15. Human Relations Tort, or Personal Injury, Law When an ethical dilemma becomes a legal problem: • McDonalds Hot Coffee • Sexual Harassment • Men’s vs. women’s laundry & hair cuts.

16. Human Relations Tools for Managing Company Ethics Leadership Code of Ethics Ethical Structure Whistle Blowers