2-8 Organizational Ethics Flashcards
What is the relationship between organizational ethics and legal compliance in HRM?
Legal compliance ensures adherence to laws, while ethics focus on the moral values and behavior that distinguish ethical organizations from unethical ones.
How are ethics defined in the context of HRM?
Ethics are a system of moral values that motivate behavior and permeate all aspects of the employment relationship.
What distinguishes an ethical organization from an unethical one?
Ethical organizations value employee contributions, respect personal rights, and treat employees fairly beyond just legal compliance.
What is a code of ethics, and why is it important?
A code of ethics is a formal written statement of an organization’s primary values, providing a basis for ethical behavior and decision-making.
How do organizations support ethical behavior?
By creating codes of ethics
Establishing ethics committees and ombudspersons
Providing ethics training to employees
What is the role of the Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy?
To promote and practice ethical decision-making, ensuring members have widely publicized codes of ethics.
What is the purpose of ethics commissioners in Canada?
Ethics commissioners help appointed and elected officials prevent conflicts between their public and private interests.
Which government levels in Canada have ethics commissioners?
Which government levels in Canada have ethics commissioners?
A: The federal government and some provincial governments, such as Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
What are the ultimate goals of ethics training and ethics commissioners?
To avoid unethical behavior and adverse publicity.
To gain a strategic advantage.
To treat employees fairly and equitably as productive members of the organization.
Why is managerial ethics critical in supervising employees?
It ensures that employees are treated fairly and respectfully, which is distinct from mere legal compliance.
What is whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is when employees report an organization’s unethical practices to external authorities or the public.
Why might employees hesitate to whistleblow?
They may fear retaliation or revenge from those involved in unethical actions.
What measures can organizations take to encourage whistleblowing?
Establish confidential hotlines or reporting channels.
Build trust that reports will be taken seriously and acted upon.
Ensure protections for whistleblowers against dismissal or retaliation.
What role do leaders play in supporting whistleblowing?
Leaders must model ethical behavior, create a culture of trust, and encourage employees to report unethical actions.
What are the basic guidelines organizations should follow to ensure ethical practices?
Be trustworthy.
Maintain confidences.
Be impartial and objective.
Be fair.
Avoid conflicts of interest.
How has social media impacted whistleblowing?
Employees are increasingly using social media to criticize unethical practices when internal reporting mechanisms fail, raising concerns for organizations.
What are some recent trends affecting workplace ethics and accommodations?
Increased focus on diversity, inclusion, and harassment prevention.
Growing attention to mental health accommodations and family status requests.
Adjustments in employment legislation due to COVID-19, such as temporary layoff rules and paid leave for vaccinations.
How does harassment continue to affect workplace ethics?
High-profile cases and media attention emphasize the need for robust policies and tools, such as AI-guided apps, to address and prevent harassment.
What challenges do employers face in accommodating mental health issues?
Employers must learn how to discuss mental health openly, understand legal requirements, and prioritize accommodations as a basic human right.
How did COVID-19 influence employment legislation?
Temporary layoff durations were extended in some jurisdictions.
Paid leave was introduced for vaccinations.
Adjustments were made to ensure businesses could adapt to pandemic-related challenges.
What ethical challenges arise in diversity and inclusion efforts?
What ethical challenges arise in diversity and inclusion efforts?
A: Organizations must address systemic barriers, unconscious biases, and ensure sufficient training to foster a welcoming environment for diverse employees.
How is technology aiding in addressing workplace harassment?
Tools like AI-guided apps analyze harassment reports and provide resources to help employees seek justice and support.
