By Our Special Correspondent
You apply for a day’s sick leave as you want to watch the first show of the action movie. You get a beautiful mail forward which you take a print out from the office printer. At least thrice a week you come late to office. You engage in an affair with your colleague thinking that your personal matters are your business and not anybody’s business.
CAREER CLUES
Each of your above actions indicates the failure to practice value-based workplace ethics and all these actions tell upon your self-image in front of your co-workers. The only solution to safeguard your image is to follow value-based workplace ethics.
We all have been taught several rules in our life by our parents; don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t hurt and the more famous “Do unto others as you would have done to you.” These are generally understood as ethics of life and there are workplace ethics. The irony is that we don’t realize that there is no difference between personal ethics and workplace ethics.
Ethics are the same wherever we are, whether it is personal life or workplace life. We make choices between right and wrong. Workplace values can be defined as a code of conduct or expectations about the employee’s behavior or actions in the organization. Every organization expects its employees to abide by certain set norms, which form the crux of workplace ethics.
Ethics or values form a strong foundation for any organization in building its brand image. Employees are of heter-ogeneuos nature in terms of their backgrounds, attitudes and behaviours. Hence, there is a need for a defined set of rules and regulations that the employees should abide by. This will firm up the foundation of the organization and in turn results in the personal growth. Workplace ethics include characteristics such as honesty, integrity, being punctual, empathy and compassion for others, and unprejudiced dealing with customers – both internal and external, respect for the rights of others, positive attitude towards work, and accountability for personal actions and so on.
Be punctual: Punctuality is one of the most vital and minimum workplace values that your employer expects from you. Recognize the importance of your time as also the time of others. This solidifies your image in front of your managers and other co-workers. Arriving on time and completing the assigned jobs well on time reflects your character.
Be cooperative: In a heter-ogeneuos set of co-workers, cooperation is the most important attitude required of an individual. Being cooperative in solving the problems and issues in the work place helps you to grow up in the career ladder. This builds up team spirit and success is faster in a team work.
Be committed: Being committed to a given word and given time frame keeps you on the top of the pedestal. It gives you a professional image. May be, you are not a whiz in your field. But commitment to learn and discharge your duties takes you up in your growth trajectory. Commitment not only gives professional growth, it also gives personal satisfaction of doing justice to your work.
Be truthful: As Mark Twain rightly puts it, “Always tell the Truth. That way, you don’t have to remember what you said”. Being honest and truthful reflect your character. Integrity is a moral value that you should imbibe in every of your activity. Both personal and official.
Be loyal: Be loyal to your employer. This emanates from being loyal to your own self. Avoid anything that is tantamount to malpractice. If there is a dilemma in your mind whether to do something it always drives you to the answer, “Don’t do it.”
Be accountable: Taking responsibility is one side of the story. Taking accountability for the actions of yours is the most important trait. This will enhance the leadership qualities in you.
Maintain confidentiality: Close your lips tight when it comes to confidential information of the organizations. Always remember the “non-disclosure” policy signed by you at the time of your appointment.
General rule: Always present the following questions at you before you indulge in an act or deed. Is it legal? Does this violate the company policy? Will this action cause damage to my / organizational reputation or the reputation of any of my co-worker? Will I be able to hold my head high after doing this particular act? If the answers are going to be ‘yes’ for all these questions, better keep yourself away from these actions.
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