Religion in the workplace - Coursework Example

Running head: religion in the workplace 27th March Introduction For any company to achieve success and strong positive relationship between the employees and the employers, it is vital for each party to uphold ethics during his or her duties. Managers in small and big organizations are responsible for upholding high level of ethics. Work place ethics entails doing the right thing even when the wrong thing appears to be attractive. Based on the wide range of responsibilities, managers must ensure that they make the right choice to ensure that there is a balance between other aspects of their live and main duties. Work place ethics entails making a choice that is determined by the legal or right of the choice even if other choices are attractive. If workers lack ethical practice to guide them during their duties, they make decisions that are not based on their own perspectives rather than the values of the organization (Blackburn, 2001). It is vital to note that a discord may occur if different values are established in a company. Thus, it is prudent that the management comes up with ethical principles that should be followed by all the employees. Based on the fact that the employers and the employees aim at achieving the objectives of their organization, it is vital that ethical principles are set in order to set common values in the working environment. Through common values, productivity and efficiency are achieved in the firm. This paper analyzes the importance of ethics in the work place as well as the ethical theories that are used by companies to come up with ethics policies. Importance of ethical principles Managers provide ethics in their organization so that each and every employee adopts standard principles not withstanding his or her cultural background or individual values. This implies that employees are treated equally thus experiencing a feeling of belonging while at the same time removing fear thus making them to give their views to the management without hesitating. One of the major aspects that makes employees to act as indicated by the ethical principles is that workers contributes through oral or in writing to set the regulations in the work places. Ethical principles are important based on their help to the managers in making decisions since as a leader he or she is faced with various issues that are of varying priority. According to the ethical theory of egoism as indicated by Adam Smith and Ayn Rand, if something meets the needs of an individual or ones desires are achieved, then that thing can be right or wrong (Solomon, 1984). Similarly, the theory whose basic principle is based on self interest of individual states that a person should choose an action that makes one to achieve his or her objectives. This implies that managers must select the best option while coming up with ethical principles. Based on the fact that firm’s major objective as well as the goals of the shareholders is to make profits, leaders may decide to reduce costs and expenses in order to increase profits by engaging in some unethical practices. On the other hand, managers as human beings who are responsible for ensuring effective ethical practices may be harmed by the decisions made by the companies’ directors in their efforts to maximize profits. In such cases, the decisions are not ethical. Ethical theory of egoism assumes that managers within an organization may make ethical decisions that are bad and then he or she continues with rationalizing the decisions (Perle, 2004). Another role that ethics play in an organization is creating a strong relationship between the employees and the employer. If a company lacks proper workplace ethics, employers may loose productive employees and loyal customers. In their efforts to curb unethical behavior within organizations, most government employs heavy penalties to the employers who are involved in criminal activities in cases where they are not able to prove that they tried all they could to put ethical measures in place and prevent any misconduct that is directed to the company assets, funds or workers. Asset protection Sustainable ethical practices are vital in any business in safeguarding the available resources including assets. Employees who abide by the rules as set by their employers are able to follow the rules that relates to the asset protection. For example, as the need for communication using modern technology, workers can be tempted to use the company business lines to call private long distance calls. However, if the employees value the company ethical policies, they will avoid using company business lines. Additionally, workers with strong ethical background will not engage in using company motor vehicles to transport their personal belonging or make personal travelling. If the employees want to carry their personal items, it is essential that they seek permission from the employer. Alternatively, they can ask the management to consider providing a motor vehicle as a benefit. One of the most vital things to notice is that if managers treats their employees with respect and dignity, they not only feel proud and motivated but also they respond by protecting the company assets. Thus, an employer should ensure that the working environment is characterized by integrity and strong ethical policies thus making the workers to be proud thus deterring them from stealing company equipment and supplies. Productivity Ethics in a workplace brings about improved productivity and team work among the employees. Within a firm, ethics plays a vital role of aligning the value of the employees with those of the organization. Thus, managers should adopt the culture of making continuous dialogue with the workers in order to ensure that they communicate their values. Similarly, the managers must hold regular meetings with new and existing employees as a way of getting them to know the values of the business. In this way, the employees will have ample opportunity to give their feedback and ideas on the business activities. By ensuring that a strong alignment between the workers and business values is achieved, the employees feel motivated thus increasing their productivity. On their part, the managers are in better position to lead other without many challenges or resistance to change from the workers. Public image By making ethical choices, organization and the workers are in as position to attain a strong public image that makes them to get respected. For instance, in the world, carbon emissions have become a challenge that is being addressed by many organizations. This implies that a business may fulfill its social responsibilities by reducing wastage thus eliminating the carbon emission. In this way, the public will consider such a business as operating with a significant level of integrity and honor since the firm puts more value on the neighboring community that in the profits it makes. Similarly, by creating a strong public image through ethical policies, an organization is able to expand its customer base. This will not only result to high sales but also sustainable profits. Examples of misconduct or unethical behavior includes misrepresentation hours of working, lying to the senior managers and supervisors, lying to the co-workers, misuse of companies resources and falsifying documents among others. Due to the various avenues through which employees can embark on unethical conduct, it is essential for managers to ensure that such avenues are closed by the way of upholding and maintaining ethical practices (John, 2000). As an employer, one has the role of creating an ethics policy that serves various functions. For example, apart from deterring the misconduct by the employees, it should ensure that conflict of interest is avoided. Similarly, it should be used to keep the employees honest and provide them with ability and guideline to solve social issues that may arise during their day to day activities. Role of employees in ethics According to deontology theory of ethics, an employees or employer may not only choose an action that is in line with his or her duties but also he or she should fulfill duties towards self. Workers should therefore not underestimate their role in implementing and following ethical practices. Employees are in a better position to propagate for ethics in the work places. Thus, workers should be educated and trained on the ethics polices that the employer has implemented. Through the use of notice boards and brochures and seminars, the employer should update the employees on any ethical policy that has been launched. For example, if the code of dressing changes or the use of mobile phones in limited to urgent cases, then the employees should be notified for instance by the use of notice boards. Workers on their part should be vigilant in watching out to avoid being involved in unethical practices. It is the duty of the employees to maintain high level of ethical behavior while they are within and outside of company premises. It is important to note that even though the human resources managers, directors or other top managers are the ones who come up with ethics policy, employees are in a better position to prevent ethical violations in all the departments. This implies that the workers must be in a position to notice when a breach occurs as far as ethical standards in the company are concerned. Being closely working with other workers, employees are able to monitor their colleagues in cases when the supervisors are not present. In this way, any case of ethical violation is timely reported. This does not mean that the worker takes the roles of a judge or a disciplinarian but the aim is to ensure that ethical is upheld in the workplace. Challenges of ethical policies One of the major challenges being faced by the organizations in their efforts to maintain the culture of ethical practices is self-control by the workers. If the ethical issue is related to the financial aspect or money of the firm or it relates to company policies it is challenges since management of most companies do not have ability to control all of them. Even though companies can provide policies, regulation among other decisions to the employees, it is not easy to determine whether the workers will have self-control of the ethical decisions. Another notable challenge facing organization is that of being an open book (Vendemiati, 2004). This implies that in their efforts of being open to employees, they are faced with a problem of interfering with the process of making organizational changes. Unless they reach a certain point, managers are not able to give the employees some information. From an ethical perspective, if something impacts on the employees on a positive way, it is essential for the managers to inform the workers about them. Nevertheless, organizational face challenges since if a lot of information is released to the workers, the process of making changes could be compromised. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, it is clear that ethics in a workplace is an aspect that cannot be overlooked. Even though workers might be focused their own objectives as well as those of the business, they might fail if they do not follow the laid down ethical polices. Managers on their part must provide adequate training to the employees in order for them to be aware of the new ethical policies that the management has established. In a working environment, ethical perspectives are significantly impacted on by two major ethical theories that include ethical theory of egoism and deontology theory of ethics. While the theory of egoism maintains that something is treated as good or bird if it meets the desires and need of the individuals, deontology maintains that an individual chooses an action that is in line with his or her duties. Thus the two theories are paramount in achieving high ethical standards in a working environment. References Blackburn, S. (2001). Being good: A short introduction to ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. John, N. (2000). Complete Conduct Principles for the 21st Century. New York: Macmillan Publishers. Perle, S. (2004). Morality and Ethics: An Introduction: Skepticism in Ethics. London: Sage. Solomon, C. (1984). Morality and the Good Life: An Introduction to Ethics Through Classical Sources. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company. Vendemiati, A. (2004). In the First Person, An Outline of General Ethics. Rome: Urbaniana University Press. Read More