Workplace Ethics - A Dilemma
At some point in just about everyone’s career there comes a time where they’re faced with a workplace ethics dilemma. It may be something that they are not involved with or something that they are in the big middle of, but nevertheless, still difficult to deal with. This article is dedicated to identifying ethical dilemmas and what to do when you encounter a situation that is difficult to deal with.
First, there is never a workplace dilemma that is easy to deal with. Not only are you facing repercussions from reporting, but also being black balled from the business community. That is scary, especially since your job is your livelihood. That is a common feeling for most employees and they end up not reporting violations or following workplace ethics for fear of losing their job. The fear is understandable and everyone has children or other loved ones to feed, but think about it this way: What happens when several employees fear for the same job security and allow unethical actions to carry on. How long will the business be able to sustain itself? If enough money is stolen, products are moved or customers are lost, the answer is not long at all. Then you are faced with no job, a guilty conscience and so are a lot of other people.
One of the best ways to identify a workplace ethics violation is to consider the business your own. Put yourself in the shoes of the owner of the business, would you want the behavior or actions to go on under your control? If not, then why not? Answer the questions about what the behavior or action could do to the business, community and best of all your pocketbook? Many people have a tough time making a decision and knowing what to do unless they apply it to themselves, make it personal per say.
If you know that there is unethical behavior happening in the workplace the best thing to do is report it immediately. That way you could not be implicated or brought up on charges for not reporting the act. Reporting to a supervisor is generally the best course of action or if you have a corporate office you could always make an anonymous phone call to report the behavior. Most companies have a clear policy on workplace ethics and you probably signed a copy of them when you got hired. Dig around, find the manual and follow the procedure or guidelines from the companies rules. It may not seem like a big deal to only take a few goods or take a little cash, but it is. People graduate up and before long it is several thousand dollars instead of twenty in change. It is a good idea to remember that if it does not belong, don’t remove it. If you know of something that is illegal, unethical or both, report it immediately. Do not sit on it and wait for someone else to do something. When someone finally does something it may be too lat
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