Chapter 1- Lesson 2 Notes.pdf
- 1. 1 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique LESSON 2- CODE OF ETHICS AND CODE OF CONDUCT CODE OF ETHICS DEFINITION The code of ethics is a moral standard that company expects employee to follow. At a minimum, ethics guidelines are established by the laws and industry regulations. A business can exceed minimum ethics guidelines to ensure that employees feel safe, avoid situations where they feel harassment or discrimination. Conflicts of interest are also addressed in a code of ethics. A well- written code of ethics that’s adhered to builds trust among employees and establishes credibility with partner companies and consumers. Source: https://www.google.com.ph Sometimes, it is referred to as a Value Statement, it behaves like the Constitution in general principles to guide behavior; outlining a set of principles that affect decision making. For example, in an organization is committed to protecting the environment and “being green”, the Code of Ethics will state that there is an expectation for any employee faced with a problem to choose the most “green” solution. It works on the bases of “treat others as you would like to be treated”. When faced with ethical dilemmas or debatable situations, what’s articulated in the Code of Ethics can help guide decision making. Code of Ethics as such standards are reasonably necessary to promote: 1. Honest and ethical conduct, including the ethical handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships. 2. Full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure in the periodic reports required to be filed by the issuer. 3. Compliance with applicable governmental rules and regulations. DEFINITION OF CODE OF CONDUCT A Code of Conduct applies the Code of Ethics to a host of relevant situations. A particular rule in the Code of Ethics might state that all employees will obey the law, a Code of Conduct might list several specific laws relevant to different areas of organizational operations, or industry, that employees need to obey. Source: https://www.google.com.ph The Code of Conduct outlines specific behaviors that are required or prohibited as a condition of ongoing employment. It might forbid sexual harassment, racial intimidation or viewing inappropriate or unauthorized content on company computers. Codes, along with other measures, have helped some companies dig themselves out of scandals, and have helped many companies build a healthier work climate and reputation.
- 2. 2 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique Another code of conduct example might require everyone to protect consumer data. This is a law and sets general guideline for all employees. However, the accounting department might follow a higher set of privacy protocol set forth in code of conduct. A call center might require that all personal items be left in a locker to prevent accidentally capturing or removing consumer personal information. Every business should have a clear vision, when it comes to ethics and conduct. What that happens, then employees work better as a team, job satisfaction increases and performance improves when companies set the tone with meaningful ethical and conduct standards. The result is a positive corporate culture, in which people want to go work and that consumers enjoy working with these employees. Either way, whatever type of Code an organization chooses to employ, it’s critical that it is treated consistently in every instance of wrongdoing. The Code needs to apply to every employee from the ground up, and no matter how small the violation, appropriate discipline needs to take place. For example, if your code stipulates that theft of company property is prohibited, and an employee takes home one pack of post-it notes from the supply inventory, that’s theft, and should be treated as such. A great Code and a strong company culture is the heart of a successful organization. This code helps the organizations to build a culture of integrity, transparency and accountability. An organization’s culture is different in all industries: there’s no one- size-fits-all solution for building and adopting a strong organizational culture. One step in building a successful culture is with the integration of a strong compliance program, including a whistleblower hotline. This is a powerful tool for any organization to implement in their proactive measures to ensure their business success and grow their strong culture where employees can thrive. Each entity implements local employee codes of conduct. These codes are intended for all employees to help them develop their activities while respecting the Group’s ethical principles. Difference of Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct Code of ethics which govern decision-making and code of conduct, which governs actions, represent two common ways that organizations self-regulate. They are often associated with organizations and provide direction to employees and establish a public image of good behavior, both of which benefits businesses of any size. The primary difference is that code of conduct is less morally driven than a code of ethics. For example, the code of conduct might require all employees to wear a specific color or company shirt when in office. This is not an ethical issue, but it is a conduct issue designed to create cohesiveness among employees. Take a look for our table of difference:
- 3. 3 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique Code of Ethics Code of Conduct Ethics rules help people make decision. Conduct rules require specific behaviors. A moral standard that the company expects employees to follow. Code of conduct states how the company expects employees to behave. Every code of ethics scenario should have a corresponding set of rules. Code of conduct may not always be ethically driven. Ethics are higher level of concepts. Code of conduct gets down to specific action expectations. Code of ethics might state that all employees must obey all safety protocols. A code of conduct explains for example, the distance from the oxygen tank employees are allowed to smoke. Ethical standards generally are wide- ranging and non-specific, designed to provide a set of values or decision-making approaches that enable employees to make independent judgements about the most appropriate course of action. Conduct standards generally require little judgement; you obey or incur penalty, and the code provides fairly clear set of expectations about which actions are required, acceptable or prohibited. KEY PRINCIPLES OF CODE CONDUCT These codes are intended for all employees to help them develop their activities while respecting the group’s ethical principles. 1. Respect for laws and regulations 2. Respect for people 3. Respect for the environment 4. Respect for competition law regulations 5. Respect for rules on insider trading 6. Prevention of conflicts of interest 7. Protection of activities 8. Transparency and integrity of information WHY CODE OF CONDUCT IS IMPORTANT? Code of conduct is a central guide and reference for employee in supporting day- to-day decision making. A well-written code clarifies organizations mission, values and principles, linking them with standards of professional conduct. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS Professional ethics encompass the personal, and corporate standards of behavior expected by professionals. The word professionalism originally applied to vows of religious order. By at least the year 1675, the term had seen secular application and was applied to the three learned professions:
- 4. 4 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique 1. Divinity 2. Law 3. Medicine The term professionalism was also used for the military profession around this same time. Professionals and those working in acknowledged professions exercise specialist knowledge and skill. How the use of this knowledge should be governed when providing a service to the public can be considered a moral issue and is termed professional ethics. It is capable of making judgements, applying their skills, and reaching informed decisions in situations that the general public cannot because they have not attained the necessary knowledge and skills. One of the earliest examples of professional ethics is the Hippocratic oath to which medical doctors still adhere to this day. . A 12th century Byzantine manuscript of the Hippocratic oath. Source: https://www.google.com.ph ETHICS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POLICING It’s often said that no other profession demands a higher ethical standard than that of law enforcement. Regardless of whether or not there are other careers that require a similar dedication to doing the right thing, it is undeniable that there is an understandably tremendous degree of expectations placed upon police officers. PROFESSIONAL CODE OF ETHICS General rule is to ethically act in accordance with approved standards of conduct and responsibility or according to the respective ethical code of behavior. IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL CODES OF ETHICS Many ethical dilemmas in criminal justice Complicated relationships in the field Requirement of professionalism AREAS OF ETHICAL CONCERN FOR DECISION MAKING The three areas below are not static. They, at times overlap at times are mutually exclusive, and numerous varieties in between.
- 5. 5 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique Making Ethical Decisions: Process Ethical decision-making refers to the process of evaluating and choosing among alternatives in a manner consistent with ethical principles. In making ethical decisions, it is necessary to perceive and eliminate unethical options and select the best ethical alternative. The process of making ethical decisions requires: 1. Commitment: The desire to do the right thing regardless of the cost. 2. Consciousness: The awareness to act consistently and apply moral convictions to daily behavior. 3. Competency: The ability to collect and evaluate information, develop alternatives and foresee potential consequences and risks. Good decisions are both ethical and effective: Ethical decisions generate and sustain trust; demonstrate respect, responsibility, fairness and caring; and are consistent with good citizenship. These behaviors provide a foundation for making better decisions by setting the ground rules for our behavior. Effective decisions are effective if they accomplish what we want to accomplished and if they advanced our purposes. A choice that produces unintended and undesirable results is ineffective. The key to making effective decisions is to think about the choices in terms of their ability to accomplish our most important goal. This means we have to understand the difference between immediate and short-term goals and longer-range goals. MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS: MODEL The “Character-Based Decision-Making Model” model, developed by the Josephson Institute of Ethics, can be applied to many common problems and can also be used by most individuals facing ethical dilemmas. It involves three steps: 1. All decisions must take into account and reflect a concern for the interests and well-being of all affected individuals (stakeholders). The underlying principle here is the Golden Rule- help when you can, avoid harm when you can. 2. Ethical values and principles always take precedence over non-ethical ones. Ethical values are morally superior to non-ethical ones. When faced with a clear choice between such values, the ethical person should always choose to follow ethical principles. 3. Perceiving the difference between ethical and non-ethical values can be difficult. This situation often occurs when people perceive a clash between what they want or “need” and ethical principles that might deny these desires. If some rationalization begins to occur, this situation is probably present.
- 6. 6 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique 7 steps to help you make ethical distinctions between competing options when you are faced with a difficult choice. (According to Josephson Institute of Ethics) Making ethical choices requires the ability to make distinctions between competing options. Here are seven steps to help you make better decisions: 1. Stop and think: This provides several benefits. It prevents rash decisions, prepares us for more thoughtful discernment, and can allow us to mobilize our discipline. 2. Clarify goals: Before you choose, clarify your short-term and long-term aims. Determine which of your many wants and “don’t wants” affected by the decisions that fulfill immediate wants and needs can prevent the achievement of our more important life goals. 3. Determine facts: Be sure you have adequate information to support an intelligent choice. To determine the facts, first resolve what you know, then what you need to know. Be prepared for additional information and to verify assumptions and other uncertain information. In addition: a. Consider the reliability and credibility of the people providing the facts. b. Consider the basis of the supposed facts. If the person giving you the information says he or she personally heard or saw something, evaluate that person in terms of honesty, accuracy and memory. 4. Develop options: Once you know what you want to achieve and have made your best judgement as to the relevant facts, make a list of actions you can take to accomplish your goals. If it’s an especially important decision, talk to someone you trust so you can broaden your perspective and think of new choices. If you can think of only one or two choices, you’re probably not thinking hard enough. 5. Consider consequences: Filter your choices to determine if any of your options will violate any core ethical values, and then eliminate any unethical options. Identify who will be affected by the decision and how the decision is likely to affect them. 6. Choose: Make a decision. If the choice is not immediately clear, try: a. Talking to people whose judgement your respect. b. Think of a person of strong character that you know or know of, and ask yourself what they would do in your situation. c. If everyone found out about your decision, would you be proud and comfortable? d. Follow the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated, and keep your promises. 7. Monitor and modify: Ethical decision-makers monitor the effects of their choices. If they are not producing the intended results, or are causing additional unintended and undesirable results, they re-assess the situation and make new decisions.
- 7. 7 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique ETHICAL DILEMMAS It is also known as moral dilemmas, are situations in which there is a choice to be made between two options, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable fashion. A moral dilemma is a conflict in which you have to choose between two or more actions and have moral reasons for choosing each action. Characteristics of Ethical Dilemmas A choice must be between two (or more) course of actions. Significant consequences for taking (or not taking) any action. Each action is supported by one or more ethical principles. Principles supporting the unselected courses action will be compromised. Fundamentally ethics is knowing what is right and doing it. The heart has reasons that reason will never know (Pascal). 6 STEPS FOR MAKING ETHICAL DECISIONS In other instances, you may feel unsure about a situation and a decision, since there seem to be a number of acceptable alternatives. If you ask yourself these types of questions, the issue probably has ethical or moral implications. This 6-step process helps you make a thoughtful and responsible decision. 1. Establish the facts in a situation. 2. Decide whether the situation involves legal or ethical issues. 3. Identify your options and possible consequences. 4. Evaluate your options. 5. Choose the best option. 6. Implement your decision. PERSONAL VALUES Core Contributors External Contributors Age Location Socio-economic status Ethnicity Religion Family Education Social Interaction Vocation PROFESSIONAL VALUES Organizational Governmental Professional Standards (SOP’s) Organizational Ethics Equality for all Accountability
- 8. 8 Professional Conduct and Ethical Standards| Module University of Antique HAMMER MODEL OF SCIENTIFIC MISCONDUCT 1. Negligence Lack of Training Lack of Support Lack of Commitment 2. Deliberate Dishonesty 3. Begins with lack of commitment 4. Money 5. Notoriety- media 6. Ends justify the means- I know he’s guilty 7. Ego- I don’t make mistakes D-O-O-R MODEL OF DECISION MAKING D- Determine O- Options O- Outcomes R- Recycle Source: https://www.google.com.ph D- Determine What is wrong? What’s the real issue for me? Is there a moral or ethical threat to me or someone else? Would this be a problem if someone else was involved? O- Options What are some extreme choices? Am I considering several choices? What resources or help do I have available? Choose them wisely. O- Outcomes What could happen based on the Option I choose? What could happen if I do nothing? Who will be affected by what I do? Is it the right thing to? R- Recycle After an option is chosen, return to see if the original question is still valid.