1. What is work ethic and why do we care?
Learning Objective:
Students will learn about work ethic and be able to identify and demonstrate good work ethic.

2. Work Ethic What is Work Ethic?
Work ethic is reflected in a person’s attitudes, feelings, and beliefs towards work.
Work ethic is the morals and values in the work place.
Hill (1999) defines work ethic as:
Interpersonal skills
Initiative
Being dependable
What do these three items mean?

3. What is Ethical Behavior?
Work Ethic
What is Ethical Behavior?
Ethic behavior includes:
following personal and professional codes of ethics
Honesty
maintaining good attendance (and explaining any absences)
starting work on time and being productive while at work
keeping confidential matters to yourself
avoiding gossip and disputes
following workplace rules and regulations
Respecting your co-workers
keeping your promises.

4. Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable
Work Ethic
How is Your Work Ethic?
As a group discuss the following:
How did you score on the items in the Employability Skills Assessment (Petty, 1993)?
What things do you do well?
What things can you improve to help increase your score?
Answer in your notebook.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

5. As a Student, What is Your Work Ethic?
As a group discuss the following:
How are your interpersonal skills?
How is your initiative?
Are you dependable?
Why or why not?
Answer in your notebook.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

6. Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable
Work Ethic
How Can You Be Your Best?
On the paper provided answer the following:
How do you feel about school? Be detailed.
You can always continue to be the best you can be. Keeping that in mind, in school, how can you improve:
Interpersonal skills
Initiative
Being dependable
Place these goals in the front of your notebook. Where you can reflect on the each day.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

7. Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable
Work Ethic
Work Ethic Issues
Dear Ms. Ethics,
Drew works as a school concession worker for all home games. All workers are allowed to have one free drink, the second drink for half price, and the third for full price. All food items are full price, including the gum. Even with the fans blowing, it is always hot and stuffy in the concession stand. Drew always has three to four drinks when he works, but he never pays. He says no one will know, so why pay.
From a Frustrated Co-Worker
Decide who benefits and who
loses. What are the possible consequences?
What suggestions would you give to these people so that they won’t lose their jobs?
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

8. Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable
Work Ethic
Work Ethic Issues
Dear Ms. Ethics, Sharon works part-time at a construction company as a finish carpenter’s helper installing molding, baseboards, and door frames. She is well-liked and completes her work on schedule. Sharon returns to work after all the employees have left to use the same equipment to construct a stereo cabinet. She believes there is no harm in using the equipment because she knows how to use the machines and she is not using company time. Sharon is confident that the supervisor would say it was all right if asked to use the equipment. From a Worried Co-Worker
Decide who benefits and who
loses. What are the possible consequences?
What suggestions would you give to these people so that they won’t lose their jobs?
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

9. Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable
Work Ethic
Work Ethic Issues
Dear Ms. Ethics, During the Christmas holiday, Amber works as a part-time attendant in a clothing store. Her duties are to assist the customers, keep all clothes folded, and ring up the merchandise. Last month when Amber went to work, there was a new line of beautiful men’s sweaters. She wanted to buy a blue sweater for her boyfriend so that it would bring out the blue in his eyes. She didn’t have any money, and payday was a couple of weeks away. Afraid that the blue sweater would sell, she took it home. She planned to pay after the next payday but never got around to paying for it. From a Worried Co-Worker
Decide who benefits and who
loses. What are the possible consequences?
What suggestions would you give to these people so that they won’t lose their jobs?
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

10. What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Work Ethic
What is the Best Ethical Decision?
In a group of 3-4 students act out the work place ethics situation.
15 minutes to discuss and prepare each skit.
2-3 minutes per skit.
Create a skit of an unethical response to the situation.
Create a skit of the ethical response.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

11. What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Work Ethic
What is the Best Ethical Decision?
You see a co-worker taking supplies for personal use at home.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

12. What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Work Ethic
What is the Best Ethical Decision?
A conflict happens with your manager.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

13. What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Work Ethic
What is the Best Ethical Decision?
You have just found out that you are not being paid as much as a fellow worker who was hired at the same time and with your same qualifications.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

14. What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Work Ethic
What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Your boss tells you to alter a financial report.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

15. What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Work Ethic
What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Your supervisor gives you credit for work on a report that was done by a co-worker in your department.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable

16. What is the Best Ethical Decision?
Work Ethic
What is the Best Ethical Decision?
A friend is causing productivity problems in your unit because of an alcohol/drug abuse problem.
Interpersonal skills Initiative Being dependable