ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE: AN OXYMORON OREXPECTATON?

Why Ethics? Why Now? In the news – Wall Street, Financial Institutions In the news – Wall Street, Financial Institutions Individual rights, needs, demand Individual rights, needs, demand Science ahead of moral reasoning Science ahead of moral reasoning Changing characteristics of the world - globalization Changing characteristics of the world - globalization

What are ethics? Who is the most ethical person you know? Who is the most ethical person you know? Why did you think of this person? Why did you think of this person? What are the characteristics you associate with this person? What are the characteristics you associate with this person?

Some Definitions Values Values Morals Morals Ethics Ethics

Some Definitions Values - Core beliefs that guide actions. Values - Core beliefs that guide actions. Morals – Customs, traditions, and beliefs that are reflected in personal convictions about right and wrong. Morals – Customs, traditions, and beliefs that are reflected in personal convictions about right and wrong. Ethics - Standards of conduct. Ethiko (Greek) – habit. Two dimensions -prudence (right) and virtue (good). Ethics - Standards of conduct. Ethiko (Greek) – habit. Two dimensions -prudence (right) and virtue (good).

Values – Motivators Values – Motivators Morals - Inner Compass Morals - Inner Compass Ethics – Foundation Ethics – Foundation

“Certain core ethical values…form the foundation of a democratic society, in particular, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, justice & fairness, caring, and civic virtue and citizenship. These core ethical values transcend cultural, religious, and socio- economic differences.” Aspen Declaration, July 1992

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development Concern for self Concern for self One-way concern about others-what they can do for you One-way concern about others-what they can do for you Social Conformity-group norms Social Conformity-group norms Social Conformity-order in society Social Conformity-order in society Social Contract-legalistic Social Contract-legalistic Universal ethical principles-requires mental reasoning, experience Universal ethical principles-requires mental reasoning, experience

Adult Stages Moral thinking and judgments-complex, comprehensive Moral thinking and judgments-complex, comprehensive Diverse viewpoints are considered Diverse viewpoints are considered Account simultaneously for situation, motivations, principles Account simultaneously for situation, motivations, principles Reasoning requires the ability to: think abstractly, weigh competing claims, consider both logical and emotional domains, take a stand, yet remain open to the future Reasoning requires the ability to: think abstractly, weigh competing claims, consider both logical and emotional domains, take a stand, yet remain open to the future

Philosophical Models of Decision Making The Golden Rule The Golden Rule Immanuel Kant - Immanuel Kant - Absolute External moral principles Absolute External moral principles Rule of Respect-well being of each Rule of Respect-well being of each Rule of Universality-universal standards Rule of Universality-universal standards John Stuart Mill- John Stuart Mill- Consequentialism/Utilitarianism Consequentialism/Utilitarianism

Josephson Model Golden Kantian Consequentialism (concerns for ALL stakeholders-cost/benefit) Golden Kantian Consequentialism (concerns for ALL stakeholders-cost/benefit) Trustworthiness Trustworthiness Respect Respect Responsibility Responsibility Fairness Fairness Caring Caring Citizenship Citizenship

Ethical Decision Making Ethical Commitment - the desire Ethical Commitment - the desire Ethical Consciousness Ethical Consciousness unaware of ethical implications unaware of ethical implications ethical legalism ethical legalism ‘white’ lies (being helpful or kind) ‘white’ lies (being helpful or kind) exaggeration or understatement exaggeration or understatement Ethical Competency – reasoning and problem solving skills Ethical Competency – reasoning and problem solving skills Evaluation Evaluation Creativity Creativity Prediction Prediction

Models of Ethical Decision Making Doctrine of Relative Filth Doctrine of Relative Filth The Conscience Prodders The Conscience Prodders The Parent Perspective The Parent Perspective Special Person Test Special Person Test The Superman Test The Superman Test The Publicity Test The Publicity Test If Everyone Did It. If Everyone Did It. WWJD WWJD

Exercise - Ethical Priorities (Fill in the blanks) First, take care of ______________ First, take care of ______________ Second, take care of ____________ Second, take care of ____________ Third, take care of ______________ Third, take care of ______________ The University Your Supervisor Yourself

Leadership’s Roles and Responsibilities Legitimize the principles-based conversation Legitimize the principles-based conversation Provide the tools for principles-based decision-making Provide the tools for principles-based decision-making Model the behavior Model the behavior Encourage the behaviors Encourage the behaviors

Legitimizing the Conversation It is leadership’s responsibility to ensure that the organization’s core principles are : It is leadership’s responsibility to ensure that the organization’s core principles are : clearly articulated clearly articulated effectively communicated effectively communicated uniformly upheld uniformly upheld

Providing the Tools Principles-based decision-making requires: Principles-based decision-making requires: clear standards clear standards a common decision-making model a common decision-making model a common vocabulary a common vocabulary mechanisms for clarification and interpretation of principles mechanisms for clarification and interpretation of principles mechanisms for reporting wrongdoing mechanisms for reporting wrongdoing

Modeling the Behaviors For leaders to be effective in a principles- based organization, they must routinely make the ethical component of their own decision-making explicit. For leaders to be effective in a principles- based organization, they must routinely make the ethical component of their own decision-making explicit. Leaders must be able to point to key organizational decisions and explain in detail how they uphold the organization’s principles. Leaders must be able to point to key organizational decisions and explain in detail how they uphold the organization’s principles.

Encouraging the Behaviors Decision-making employees must explain, in detail, how the organization’s principles are upheld in any decision they advocate or present. Decision-making employees must explain, in detail, how the organization’s principles are upheld in any decision they advocate or present. Principles-based decisions must be discussed and celebrated. Principles-based decisions must be discussed and celebrated.

Exercise – practice makes perfect!

The End!

When It’s Your Boss Give your boss a chance to retract request Give your boss a chance to retract request Begin by saying ‘no’ Begin by saying ‘no’ Pick a good time to discuss the disagreement Pick a good time to discuss the disagreement Thank your boss for meeting with you Thank your boss for meeting with you Define your ethical expectations Define your ethical expectations Express concern about boss’s reputation Express concern about boss’s reputation State the problem clearly and briefly State the problem clearly and briefly

Ask questions, acknowledge you may have misunderstood Ask questions, acknowledge you may have misunderstood Suggest a solution that is agreeable to both Suggest a solution that is agreeable to both Ask for a commitment to action Ask for a commitment to action Thank your boss for making an effort to understand your concern Thank your boss for making an effort to understand your concern