Running head: ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE 1
Ethics in the Workplace
Chadwick Pritchet
Athens State University
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Ethics in the workplace is a subject that all employers put great emphasis on
concerning their employees. This subject though is often corrupted through
upper management and owners of companies. With examples such as Enron and
Washington Mutual, the COEs of these companies hurt thousands of employees and
stockholders through unethical practices that cost some of them their entire life savings.
When being employed for a company it is wise to have good ethical practices and also have
knowledge and understanding about your employer to be aware of unethical practices that
might be carried out through the corporate level. It is also wise to be aware of the
environment that you work in as far as fellow employees are concerned. This is to be sure
you are not overtaken by unethical behavior that fellow employees are performing.
According to a report written by Tom Asacker, “honesty is the corporate cornerstone.”
In his reports he acknowledges that proper ethics in a corporation can lead to employee
retention. He states this is true because studies show that what employees want is a leader
whom they can trust, treats them fairly, and, as individuals, shows care and concern for
them. Tom’s information comes from studies of a Florida-based agency named
TalentKeepers. According to his full report, Tom explains that from a personal point of
view, honesty creates more fulfilling relationships and helps to eliminate stress, which is
the primary cause for most anxiety and depression. It is easy to tell every employee to be
honest, but how can organizations teach associates to be honest. According to Asacker’s
article an organization must first define honesty according to the organization’s standards.
If associates know the expectations they are expected to follow, the drawing line is set for
Running Head: ETHICS IN THE WORKPLACE 3
each individual. Secondly, organizations should reward honest colleagues. Each associate
should be prepared to hear the unvarnished truth from their working partners. A
comfortable environment should be created by management for this type of behavior. The
third step is to demonstrate to fellow associates. Leading by example is a process that
works in every type of training, especially when associates see management truly leading
the way. Asacker, T. (2004)
Asacker, T. (2004). T D (8th ed., Vol. 58, pp. 42-44).
Petrick and Quinn define ethical awareness as “the capacity to perceive and be
sensitive to relevant moral issues that deserve consideration in making choices that will
