Ethical Issues Facing HR
by Sherrie Scott, Demand Media
Human resources departments
develop policies that encourage ethical behavior.
Organizational ethics are rules and
standards that guide workplace behavior and moral principles. Many
organizations establish a "code of ethics" that sets company
expectations regarding ethical issues such as privacy, conflict of interest,
discrimination and harassment and workplace diversity. Human resources
personnel are charged with setting standards that promote ethical behavior in
the workplace.
Discrimination and Harassment
Human resources professionals must
ensure the organization remains compliant with anti-discrimination and
harassment laws. Employee discrimination and harassment on the basis of race,
gender or religion is an ethical issue human resources personnel face daily.
Laws that prohibit discriminatory behavior such as the Civil Rights Act and
Americans With Disabilities Act help HR representatives develop training and
awareness programs to prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
These laws also establish procedures human resources may use to report and
discipline workers who display inappropriate discriminatory behavior.
Privacy
Human resources are involved in most
aspects of employee relations including hiring, firing, compensation, benefits
and leaves. Human resources representatives have access to extremely sensitive
information. Keeping this information private is an ethical matter facing HR.
Human resources personnel have an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of
an employee's personal data.
Diversity
Workplace diversity encompasses the
various qualities, characteristics and experiences that distinguish one worker
from another. These characteristics can be differences in race, gender, age,
social status or other traits that make an individual unique. Treating a person
differently because of these differences poses an ethical issue that faces
human resources. HR personnel implement policies that promote diversity in the
workplace and welcome the differences of the entire workforce.
Safety
Employee safety is an issue facing
human resources personnel. The department must prevent and correct potentially
dangerous situations. Human resources must promptly act on hazardous conditions
that present safety concerns in the workplace. The department is also
responsible for identifying potentially dangerous employees and ensuring they
do not harm themselves or others within the organization.
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