ETHICS AND HR DECISIONS

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Why is Ethics important ?

• Studying ethics can help you arrive at clearer positions and arguments

on real life issues — and can help you apply them, too.

• Some great reasons to study ethics are as follows:

• It allows you to live an authentic life

• Makes you more successful

• Cultivates inner peace

• Provides for a stable society2

What is Ethics?• Ethics is the study of Morality• Ethics is a study of what are good and bad ends to pursue in life and

what is right and wrong to do in the conduct of life. It is therefore above all, a practical discipline. Its primary aim is to determine how one ought to live and what actions one ought to do in the conduct of one’s life. (John Deign)

• In simple words, it is the analysis and employment of concepts such as right & wrong; and acting with responsibility.

• Aristotle first used the term "ethics" to name a field of study developed by his predecessors Socrates and Plato.

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Ethics – 4 Fundamental Principles

Following are the principles

1. Respect for autonomy

2. Beneficence

3. Non-maleficence

4. Justice4

Ethical Issues at Workplace

1. Relationship with suppliers and business

partners

2. Relationship with customers

3. Relationship with employees

4. Management of resources

5. Conflict of Interest 5

Ethical Dilemma

• An ethical dilemma is a situation in which a person has to choose

between two options, both of which are morally correct but in conflict

• In a perfect world, it’s always clear about what’s right and wrong. In

the real world, things are often not so clear.

• Someone’s wrong can be your right, which means your right will

definitely, at some point, be someone else’s wrong6

Recognising Ethical Issues• Even small ethical lapses can lead to grave problems for the

organization in future.• It is necessary that even small unethical issues are addressed.• An employee; at any level must be able to identify events that could

possibly lead to an ethical issue.• Some of the situations that can lead to ethical lapses are:• Ambiguity• Motivated Blindness• Conflict of Interest• Misdirection

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Promoting Workplace Ethics

Following are some ways that ensure sound ethical practices within the

organization

• Recruiters must be careful in recruiting potential employees; especially

the one’s that will represent the top levels.

• Code of conduct & Organisation policies must be communicated with

employees.

• HR professional should interact, listen to the employees & address their

problems.

• During crisis HR should reassure employees of job security; this will

make them loyal.

• HR department should ensure that employees are not given any special

treatment on basis other than their merit and work performance.

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Importance Ethics in Human Resource

Understanding importance of ethics in HR is crucial for any organization; whether it be a local startup or a multinational powerhouse.Following are some of the important areas:• Legal consideration• Company reputation• Employee loyalty• Promoting ethics

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Managing Ethics in the workplace

• Formulate organization’s – Code of conduct manual• Establish an open communication system• Ensure fair treatment to whistleblowers• Make ethical decisions public• Appoint an ombudsperson• Regularly review and revise business policies and procedures• Top level executives must set an example

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Thank You

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