Examples of Unethical Behavior in the Workplace
by Victoria Duff, Demand Media
Ethics is based on the recognition of
certain human rights. An individual has the right not to be deliberately
deceived. He has the right not to be forced to go against his conscience. He
has the right to expect other parties to live up to their commitments and to
behave according to the law. In the workplace, the employer has the right to
expect employees to behave according to company policy.
Deliberate Deception
Deliberate deception in the workplace
includes taking credit for work done by someone else, calling in sick in order
to go to the beach, sabotaging the work of another person and, in sales,
misrepresenting the product or service to get the sale. There are other
examples of deliberate deception, but these show how damaging deception can be
by using a person's trust to undermine his rights and security. In a workplace
environment, this results in conflict and retaliation. In a sales function, it
can result in lawsuits from deceived customers.
Violation of Conscience
Your sales manager calls you into his
office and threatens to fire you unless you sell 50 large toasters. You know
the large toasters are inferior products and have been selling the small
toasters to your customers, instead. To keep your job, you must violate your
conscience and recommend that your customers buy the large toasters. Your boss
is engaging in unethical behavior by forcing you to do something you know is
wrong, and also risking the ire and potential loss of valuable customers to
meet a product sales goal. He may be engaging in unethical conduct because top
management has forced him by threatening his job, too. Coercion is also the
basis for workplace sexual harassment and results in lawsuits. Unethical
behavior often causes more unethical behavior.
Failure to Honor Commitments
Your boss promises you an extra day off
if you rush out an important project by a certain date. You work late hours and
finish the project before the deadline. Ready for your day off, you mention it
to your boss who responds "No, we have too much work to do." Your
boss engaged in unethical behavior that has virtually guaranteed your future
distrust and unwillingness to extend yourself to assist in department
emergencies. In addition, you are likely to complain to your co-workers,
causing them to distrust the promises of the boss and be unwilling to cooperate
with his requests.
Unlawful Conduct
Padding an expense account with
non-business expenses, raiding the supply cabinet to take home pens and
notebooks and passing around unregistered or counterfeit software are examples
of unlawful conduct in the workplace. The person who steals from the company by
padding her expense account or taking supplies for personal use risks losing
her job. If a company decides to overlook such theft on the basis of
maintaining employee morale by not firing a popular employee, other employees
will also steal so they can feel they are getting the same deal as their
co-worker. Passing around counterfeit software, if discovered by the
manufacturer, can cost the company through lawsuits and fines.
Disregard of Company Policy
An employer is understandably concerned
about avoiding lawsuits and angry customers because those things negatively
affect profitability. Most employers clearly state company policies against
deception, coercion and illegal activities. They also strive to convey an image
of trustworthiness to their customers and employees. Corporate trustworthiness
helps retain customers and valued employees, and the loss of either also
negatively affects company profitability. To disregard company policy is
unethical because it has the potential to harm the company and other employees.
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