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Sometimes it can be difficult to identify when you're facing an ethical dilemma in your work with volunteers. Using volunteer management scenarios and a conversational format, this webinar will cover some of the dilemmas you face when you engage and manage volunteers and provide ideas on how to resolve these situations effectively and ethically.
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Walking the Talk of Ethics
CCVA 2014
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Ethics Is…
A guide for navigating confusion and conflict More than a written “code” Influenced by history, culture, faith, experience A management tool Connected to effective leadership
CCVA 2014
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Ethical Organizations
Are accessible to diverse groups Operate ethically with all stakeholders Strive for excellence Maintain the public trust Sustain a helping environment Are at low risk for legal actions against it
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Types of Ethics
Personal
Professional Organizational
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Recognizing an Ethical Dilemma
Am I trying to determine the right course of action?
Am I asking a “should” question?
Are values and beliefs involved?
Am I feeling uncomfortable?
Is there a downside to making the “correct” choice?
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Universal Core Values
Six “Pillars of Character”:
Citizenship and Philanthropy Respect Responsibility Compassion and Generosity Justice and Fairness Trustworthiness
Josephson Institute of Ethics
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Professional Values and Principles
Citizenship and Philanthropy
Personal philosophy of volunteerism
Social responsibility to meet human needs
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Professional Values and Principles
Respect Self-determination Mutuality Human dignity Privacy Safeguarding confidential information Accessibility
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Professional Values and Principles
Responsibility
Staff relationships Professional responsibility Diligence Doing one’s best and perseverance Continuous Improvement Self-disclosure and self-restraint
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Professional Values and Principles
Compassion and Generosity
Caring and kindness Minimal harm to others
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Professional Values and Principles
Justice and Fairness
Procedural fairness Impartiality Equity
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Professional Values and Principles
Trustworthiness
Truthfulness and candor Sincerity/Non-deception Principled and moral courage Reasonability & clarity of commitments Limitations to loyalty Addressing conflict of interests
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Real-Life Scenario I
You are Director of Volunteer Services at a residential facility for seniors.
An anonymous note was left on your desk, accusing a volunteer named Ruth of downloading and sharing information about residents.
As far as you know, Ruth does not have access to any confidential files and has very limited computer skills.
However, you am aware that Ruth has a reputation among staff and other volunteers for gossiping about community members during her volunteer shift.
How should you respond to the note? CCVA 2014
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Ethical Decision-Making Steps
1. Identify the facts. Evidence Situational context Multiple perspectives Relevant policies 2. Determine the ethical issue. Which ethical values & principles are involved? Where is the conflict? Who will be most affected by your decision?
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Ethical Decision-Making Steps
3. Explore the options. Harms and benefits Legal implications Policy implications Connection to organizational mission and values What is the path of least harm? 4. Make a decision and test it. 5. Act, with confidence and courage.
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Testing Your Decision
Consequence
Legal
Image
Culture
Knot Source: Gardenswartz, Rowe & Digh for Florida Power Corp. CCVA 2014
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Real-Life Scenario II
You manage a group of 20 volunteers doing trail construction in a state forest.
Volunteers must be housed in congregate living with no individual rooms, shared sleeping and bathroom facilities, and limited privacy.
Alex, a transgender volunteer, expresses concern to you about how others will treat him and his potential exposure to fears, discrimination or prejudice from other workers.
Alex asks to be allowed to stay in a private hotel room nearby.
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Real-Life Scenario II
You manage a group of 20 volunteers doing trail construction in a state forest.
Volunteers must be housed in congregate living with no individual rooms, shared sleeping and bathroom facilities, and limited privacy.
Alex, a transgender volunteer, expresses concern to you about how others will treat him and his potential exposure to fears, discrimination or prejudice from other workers.
Alex asks to be allowed to stay in a private hotel room nearby. What else do I need to know before deciding what to do?
CCVA 2014
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Real-Life Scenario II
You manage a group of 20 volunteers doing trail construction in a state forest.
Volunteers must be housed in congregate living with no individual rooms, shared sleeping and bathroom facilities, and limited privacy.
Alex, a transgender volunteer, expresses concern to you about how others will treat him and his potential exposure to fears, discrimination or prejudice from other workers.
Alex asks to be allowed to stay in a private hotel room nearby.
What are some possible courses of action I could take? CCVA 2014
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Real-Life Scenario II
You manage a group of 20 volunteers doing trail construction in a state forest.
Volunteers must be housed in congregate living with no individual rooms, shared sleeping and bathroom facilities, and limited privacy.
Alex, a transgender volunteer, expresses concern to you about how others will treat him and his potential exposure to fears, discrimination or prejudice from other workers.
Alex asks to be allowed to stay in a private hotel room nearby. What might I learn from this situation? How could it be prevented in the future?
CCVA 2014
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Ideas for “Exercising” Ethics
Develop or revisit an organizational code of ethics Discuss ethics at staff and volunteer orientation Use scenarios as a discussion starter Focus on each core value at staff or board meetings Convene a training on ethical decision-making, and
practice on examples from fellow professionals Find colleagues to serve as a “sounding board”
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Related Resources
Independent Sector (sample codes) www.independentsector.org Professional Ethics in Volunteer Administration www.cvacert.org How Good People Make Tough Choices: Resolving the Dilemmas of Ethical Living, by Rushworth M. Kidder Josephson Institute of Ethics www.josephsoninstitute.org
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Comments from The Ethics of Volunteer Engagement Conversation with VolunteerMatch and Katie Campbell, CVA
05/06/2014 What else do I need to know?
What are some possible courses of action?
How could it be prevented in the future?
has Alex experienced discrimination or negativity in the past?
see if there are other ways for Alex to become involved
very clearly outline expectations of housing
does he have specific concerns about individuals?
would try to keep the team together having one person in a hotel changes the team dynamic
I have learned to provide details repeatedly to communicate to all volunteers and to clarify issues.
Would we be responsible for paying for the room?
Talk with Alex and offer another volunteer activity that he may be more comfortable in
frequent mentioning of policies/expectations to volunteers
is there a group he would feel comfortable with ?
Provide congregate living for all volunteers as an option, also give everyone the option to stay in a hotel on their expense.
look into the facilities available to volunteers and the effectiveness of these facilities based on changes to our communities
Will Alex be singled out as being provided special treatment
i would opt to turn alex to another opportunity that does not require exceptions
did the group sign some sort of code of respect as part of their intake/orientation process?
Privacy, respect
