Ethics and portraying our values is not only important in our personal
lives but also our professional lives, because like any open system, one feeds
back into the other. Two interesting, but brief videos outline the ideas of
ethical behavior and the costs in which it can have when we make a departure
from our best behaviors. At first it can seem rather innocent, but isn’t one
action a possible gateway into another?
Dr. Bruce Weinstein, “The Ethics Guy”, discusses ethical intelligence
saying that ethically intelligent people know how to use this awareness the
right way. Being ethically intelligent doesn't just mean knowing what is right,
but also having the courage to do what is right. Weinstein's work simplifies
five principles: do no harm, make things better, respect others, be fair, and
be compassionate. Dr. Weinstein believes that making ethics our main concern is
the best way to lead a richer, more fulfilled life and by taking ethics
seriously, we serve as role models to our children and increase the chances
that they will go into the world and make us proud (Weinstein, 2007, n.p.).
Chuck Gallagher’s concepts appear to expand on why behaving ethically
is paramount. He explains that the choices you make will have a lasting effect
on the life that you lead. Our choices and decisions do not go away after they
have been made. Gallagher uses a slippery slope argument regarding professional
ethics and generally accepted behavior to illustrate how easy moving from
unethical to illegal may be:
Not good for the customer: Selling
a customer something they do not need
Not good for company: Using
company resources for personal use
Policy violation: Misrepresenting
expense account charges
Unethical behavior: Harassment,
information sharing
Illegal: Actions that result
in jail time
I have been with ERAU for a year
and a half and have never seen my superiors behave unethically, and I do feel
that they really are models of ethical leaders for our company. When I think
about Gallagher’s slippery slope argument of ethical behavior I realize that
the area I am most guilty of is doing something not good for the company. I
have printed tickets to a concert before I dashed out the door on personal
leave (vacation time) or have printed an assigned reading article for school.
This is bad and I should definitely not do this ever again! The paper, the
printer, the ink… they are not mine for my personal needs. These supplies are
purchased from the money we have in our budget. Ultimately it is a form of
stealing and that is not okay. I know I am not the only one at fault from this
type of petty theft, but that does make it right for me when now I see the
error of my ways.
There have been times when it is questionable whether I was being
ethical toward the company. ERAU allows employees a couple hours a week to
pursue their own educational endeavors as part of our culture and policy. While
there are plenty of my colleagues pursuing degrees I do not believe anyone is
utilizing this time allowance because we are in the Department of Online
Learning and are interested in doing Online programs due to the flexibility and
also to understand the student life cycle better. Others who have used the time
usually went to class on campus. I know some like to do assignments on their
lunch breaks using their work computers. I have done this from time to time,
too. I am not sure if using the company’s computer to do our academic work is
bad for the company or not. After all we are using the company’s resource, the
computer, but the company’s culture is to pursue education and wants to give
that to the employees. I think this would be a good policy to clarify. If we
start to believe that this action is okay, what else becomes okay…? I circle
back to printing articles and then possibly other stuff like concert tickets.
It really is a slippery slope.
That lapse of judgement aside, I have seen a lot of unethical behavior,
especially when I worked as a paralegal. I have worked in several firms, but
one stood out as more corrupt than the others. To be fair, I worked in a mid to
large sized firm when I got start in the business that could wipe the floor
with some of these other places in terms of standards and ethics, so there are
good places out there. I won’t go into details because when you are defending
people who have done bad things you feel you become part of their wrongdoing by
being part of the defense team. I didn’t stay long in that position, but it is
one of a few very defining moments in my life that shaped me and what I believe
about the world.
Seeing the things I saw is why I am passionate for wanting to do better
for myself and also wanting everyone to do better in general. Dr. Weinstein’s
advice is that ethical intelligence and behavior can make us feel good. If
egoism alone is not a reason then knowing that acting with ethical intelligence
is beneficial for everyone should be a good enough reason. Let’s do better for
ourselves and others without distorting what that means.
References:
Gallagher, C. (2013, January 7).
Business Ethics Keynote Speaker - Chuck Gallagher - shares Straight Talk about Ethics!
- YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved May 7, 2015, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUJ00vNGCPE
Weinstein, B. (2012, August 24).
Keynote Speech Excerpts from The Ethics Guy - YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved May 7,
2015, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLxbHBpilJQ
Weinstein, B. (2007, January 10).
Five Easy Principles? - Businessweek. Businessweek - Business News, Stock
market & Financial Advice. Retrieved May 8, 2015, from
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-01-10/five-easy-principles-businessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice
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