Ethics Training

Michael Smith

HRD 830 – Fall Semester

Clemson University

• Understand the history and relevance of ethics in the work place

• Understand the benefits of ethics training

• Assist others with ethical decision making

Goals

• Ethics in the work place has existed since the introduction of the work place

• Crisis hit business Ethics in recent history

• 1960’s– Company’s became too focused on bottom

line profits– Company commitments to employees and

society drifted apart

History

History• 1970’s

– Rift continues to increase– Employee vs. Employer mentality introduced

• 1980’s– Bribes

• 1990’s– Financial mismanagement

• 2000’s– Internet crimes – Loss of privacy

*Ethics Resource Center [ERC], 2008

• Studies show that employers who offer and empower their employees benefit from improvement in productivity and bottom line results*

• Benefits of ethics training are visible in other company’s such as Google

Why Do Anything?

*Williams Institute for Ethics and Management, The, 2008.

• Only 1% of Googlers observed misconduct*• Ethics Resource Center [ERC] Survey shows

national average = 56%**• 69% of our class has observed misconduct

Why Do Anything?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Observed Misconduct

Google 1%

ERC 56%

Class 69%

*Great Place to Work Institute, 2008

**ERC, 2007

• Ethics can not be taught!– Ethics doesn’t need to be taught – 99.9% of people have an ethical base*

• Different types of Ethics can be taught

• Ethical decision making can be taught

*Perry, 1994

Teaching Ethics

• Five Different Ethics Approaches– The Utilitarian Approach

• Good vs. Evil

– The Rights Approach• Individuals have certain protected Rights

– The Justice Approach• Requires fairness and discourages favoritism

Teaching Ethics

*Valesquez, Andre, Shanks, Meyer, 1997

• Five Different Ethics Approaches (Cont.)– The Common Good Approach

• Society’s Rights to safety, health care and environment

– The Virtue Approach• Going beyond the “good” decision to the “best”• Advancing societies development and character

Teaching Ethics

*Valesquez, Andre, Shanks, Meyer, 1997

• Basic Decision Making– 1) Define the problem– 2) Identify alternatives– 3) Evaluate the alternatives– 4) Make the decision– 5) Implement the decision– 6) Evaluate the decision

Teaching Ethics

*Ethics Resource Center [ERC], 2008

• PLUS Method of Decision Making– Acts as a filter during certain points of

decision making process• Policies – is it consistent with my organizations

policies, procedures and guidelines?• Legal- is it acceptable under the applicable laws

and regulations?• Universal – does it conform to universal

principles/values my organization has adopted?• Self – does it satisfy my personal definition of right,

good and fair?

Teaching Ethics

*Ethics Resource Center [ERC], 2008

• Job Aid Wallet Decision Card

Teaching Ethics

Six Steps to Ethical Decision Making-Step 1: Define the problem PLUS-Step 2: Identify alternatives-Step 3: Evaluate the alternatives PLUS-Step 4: Implement the decision-Step 6: Evaluate the decision PLUS

Our Universal Principles and Values-E – Empathy – understanding the thoughts and needs of others-P – Patience – taking the time to understand before we act-I – Integrity – honesty and truth in all situations-C – Courage – doing what is right even when it is difficult

Wallet Card

Six Steps

Company Principles and/or Beliefs

• We must prevent the downward spiral of business ethics

• Ethics training assists employees and employers in recognizing ethical dilemmas

• There are many ethical decision making methods similar to the PLUS method, what is important is that one of them is utilized

Conclusion