by Donna Burgess

Created on: February 21, 2009

Ethics and the Workplace: Surviving with one's Integrity Intact

Ethical integrity in the workplace is not about what one says. It is about what one does.
When studying ethics in the working environment, one must take into account the fact that upholding good ethics has become a dying art. In addition, one must understand the importance of ethical integrity and the criteria that make up moral action, learn to deal with office politics with dignity, and recognize the challenges and obstacles that often arise. In order to uphold moral and ethical standards on a professional level, one must gain the ability to face those challenges and remain competitive in an often-cutthroat business world.

What are Business Ethics?

To understand what business ethics are one must first know how to define ethics in general.
Ethics means knowing the difference between right and wrong, and then making the correct choice. However, the "correct choice" may not always be as obvious and straightforward as one might think. According to Ruggiero, Errol Harris states there are three basic criteria that make up moral action: obligations, moral ideas and consequences (2008). The employer is morally obligated to his or her employees to use fair hiring practices and impartiality. The employee is bound to do his or her job to the best of their abilities. And both are obligated to the customer or client.
Harris' second criteria, moral ideals are quite similar to virtues and to those who are highly ethical, as obligations, as well. Moral ideals are goals for excellence and harmony. Finally, there are consequences. One must always consider the consequences or outcomes involved with any decision. These criteria not only make up moral actions with personal life, but carry over into one's professional life, as well.

Business ethics is the understanding of what is proper and professional conduct in the workplace and doing what is right, regarding promises, the effects of the company's products and services offered and relationships with stockholders and customers (McNamara, 1997-2008). Attention to ethics in the workplace helps make both managers and staff more aware of how they should act. Nevertheless, maintaining a strong ethical attitude toward work can be tough during stressful times, such as our current economic climate.

The Dying Art of Ethics and Integrity in the Work Environment

The recent fiascos by Wall Street's major insurance and banking firm are virtual case studies in business ethics, and

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