CREATING AN ETHICAL WORK ENVIRONMENT

THE MANAGER’S ROLE

ELIZABETH P TIERNEY

Published by NuBooks, an imprint of Oak Tree Press, 19 Rutland Street, Cork, Ireland

www.oaktreepress.com

ISBN: 978-1-84621-116-4 (PDF)

ISBN: 978-1-84621-117-1 (ePub)

ISBN: 978-1-84621-118-8 (Kindle)

© 2012 Elizabeth P Tierney.

All rights reserved. This eBook may not be reprinted or distributed in electronic, print, web or other format without express written permission.

INTRODUCTION

Before you begin this NuBook about business ethics, know that there are some managers who consider the notion of relating ethics and business as a joke. Others view the juxtaposition of the words as impossible or improbable. Still others consider discussions of ethics as irrelevant. And still others again avoid talking about ethics because of some vague fear that they will be overheard, the anxiety stemming from the possibility that such conversations might be construed as an admission of guilt or wrongdoing. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Forward-thinking business people around the world and from diverse public and private industry sectors now recognise that the 2000-year-old debate about ethics and commerce should be addressed.

Unlike their doubting colleagues, these businessmen and businesswomen view the refocusing on values, on how we do business, as an opportunity for organisations to re-examine what they stand for and where they are going in order to compete successfully in an increasingly complex and competitive global economy.

Such managers do not see discussions of ethics and business as a joke, as a threat or as a weakness, but rather as a natural outgrowth of the movements towards excellence, quality and transparency.

This book is not a philosophical treatise. It is a guide to assist managers by answering the question: How can you create an ethical working environment? Its purpose is to clarify the significant role you as a manager play in creating an ethical working environment.

Throughout the book, the following words are used interchangeably: values, ethics and standards. Values refer to principles, standards to the degree of excellence and ethics to rules of conduct. At times you are asked to reflect on your own experience in an effort to assist you in creating an ethical working environment.

Since there are significant downsides to being unethical or to working in an unethical environment, you might well wonder what you, as an individual, as an individual manager, can do to foster an ethical working environment. The fact is that you can do a great deal for yourself, your staff, your organisation and your stakeholders by considering the following eight steps some of which require simple reflection rather than action:

Step 1: Make the decision to commit to ethics.

Step 2: Recognise that you are a role model by definition, by your actions and by your values.

Step 3: Assume the responsibility for instilling ethical behaviour.

Step 4: Determine what you consider to be ethical practice.

Step 5: Articulate your values.

Step 6: Train your staff.

Step 7: Encourage open communication.

Step 8: Be consistent.

STEP 1: MAKE THE DECISION TO COMMIT TO ETHICS