Download Ethics and the Law

Workplace Laws and Ethics
Ethics
• Ethics: The science of morals.
• From the Greek ēthos meaning personal
disposition.
• From the prehistoric swedh meaning how
oneself is put, what a person does.
Ethics
• Also called moral philosophy.
• The field of ethics involves systematizing,
defending, and recommending concepts of right
and wrong behavior.
• Moral: Conforming to standards of what is right or
just in behavior.
• Philosophy: Investigation of the nature, causes, or
principles of reality, knowledge, or values, based
on logical reasoning.
Ethics and the Law
• From the preceding slide it is obvious that laws
(and other codes, rules, etc.) are highly related to
ethical, moral, philosophical, religious, economic,
and political ideals.
• Is there any natural foundation for these ideals?
Are any of these ideals self-evident?
• Is right random? Is right simply what the majority
or whomever is in power wants?
Management and the Law
• The classical management duties are things
such as planning, organizing, controlling,
and directing. Other things such as
budgeting, leading, facilitating, negotiating,
and problem solving are also common
elements of managing.
• Can you see how the law, morals, ethics,
and philosophy are related to the above?
Blanchard’s Ethical Decision
Making Criteria
• Is it legal?
• Is it balanced (fair to all involved)?
• How will it make me feel about myself?
Ethical Codes or Creeds
• Almost all groups (professional, religious,
social, avocational, etc.) have a, more or
less, official creed, code of ethics, behavior,
etc.
• Ditto for individuals.
• What is yours?
• Does your personal code fit your
profession’s?
Ethical Models
• Following are some common types of
ethical models that a group or individual
can use.
• Think about which one you personally
adhere to (if any) and which your employer
or profession adheres to (if any).
Ethical Models
For action and decision making
• Black and white: Everything is either right
or wrong. Do right.
• Full-disclosure: If the organization or
individual can explain itself to constituents
or stakeholders the action is OK.
• Doctrine of the mean: Belief that the
middle ground between extremes is always
right.
Ethical Models
For action and decision making
• Golden rule: Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you.
• Market ethic: Anything that is legal and
profitable is correct.
• Equal freedom: You can do whatever you
want as long as it doesn't infringe on others.
Ethical Models
For action and decision making
• Proportionality: Seldom is anything clearly
right or wrong. Try to make the goods
outweigh the bads.
• Professional: What would peers do? Do
peers think that what you are doing is OK?
Hayden Contentions
• Do the right thing.
• Be proactive.
• Focus on essential job attributes.
– In job descriptions and duties
– In selecting and placing employees
• Don’t use non-essential job attributes,
especially protected factors, in your
decisions.
What’s in a Name
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Laws
Rules
Specs
Criteria
Ordinances
Agreements
Codes
Why Laws
• Level playing field
• Know the rules of the game
• Proceed with an agenda or achieve a goal
– Whose agenda or goal?
• Because the law backs up a good or a truth
– What is good; what is true?
Who is in Charge of the Law
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Nature
God
A government entity
An organization, gang, cartel, association
The individual
Who creates the law or rule?
Who interprets it; who enforces it?
Who or What is Covered by the
Law
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Matter and energy
Everyone?
Some categories or classes
Participants
– Can you opt in?
– Can you opt out?
– Is participation voluntary or required?
Universality?
Law Soup