This post defines and explains what are work ethics. You can also visit a PowerPoint Presentation on this topic at the of the post.
Contents
What are work ethics?
The term ‘work ethics’ or workplace ethics refers to a set of values that an organization has set for its members or employees to follow. To put it in other words, it refers to a moral code of conduct the employees of an organization are expected to abide by.
The employees that live by these moral principles always win admiration from their management. Such people also get rewarded with promotions, bonuses, marked increments, etc. This exhibition of strong work ethics makes them outstanding among all employees.
So any profession or job needs a set of desirable ethical work ethics for the smooth administration and functioning
What are the desirable ethical work practices?
The following is an explanation of what are work ethics desired by organizations all over the world.
1. Honesty and Integrity
Honesty and integrity are two words of the same thing. Integrity at the workplace means an employee has a sound understanding of his/her job requirements. An honest employee adheres to the institution’s set norms, which reflects in his/her saying and actions. It also means an employee takes responsibility for your sayings and actions.
2. Self-respect and discipline
Self–respect and self-discipline are important to work ethics supporting each other. You cannot think of the one without taking into consideration the other. It would not be wrong to regard them as complementary and supplementary to each other.
A person having a sense of self-respect will always demonstrate discipline in his personal and organizational life. He/she would not attempt to commit an action detrimental to the self-dignity of colleagues and peers at work.
As stated above, the virtue of self-respect cannot be thought of in the absence of self-discipline which refers to adherence to organizational ethics. A self-disciplined employee does not deviate from set the norms of the organization. More simply his/her actions and behavior always conform to the organizational moral values.
3. Responsibility and accountability
Accountability is another work ethic that refers to having a keen sense of responsibility for one’s actions as an employee of an organization. Thus, an employee with this strong work ethic holds him/herself accountable for his/her errors and proactively work to fix these issues.
4. Punctuality
Punctuality as work ethics refers to the demonstration of the will to report, participate, perform something well before the scheduled timing and deadlines. It is evidence of being professional in one’s approach towards his/her job. Those people who exhibit this important work ethic in their professional life always receive admiration and respect at the workplace.
When a person a punctual, it actually means he/she respects other people. That is he/she has this realization that time is precious and those who give their time are not worthless. Such people establish themselves as reliable and trustworthy in the eyes of their higher-ups and peers.
On the other hand, a person lacking this important personal attribute actually gives an impression as if s/he has no regard for his duties and other people.
Thus, the organization we work with expects us to be punctual to rely on us to achieve its target and success. Our consistent absence and tardiness may increase the workload on employees thereby negatively impacting the performance of the organization.
Hence, organizations consider punctuality an important element to consider during the performance evaluation of employees.
5.Respecting the rights of others
People at the workplace come with differences in work style, generation, personalities, etc. This diversity can only be embraced by stressing the importance of respect in the workplace.
Similarly, everyone has a different perspective and outlook on the tasks and of the task. They may differ how some professional activity progresses etc. Hence, the employees need to understand that they must be respectful, professional, and polite at work.
Encouraging mutual respect helps (a) reduce workplace stress, conflict, and problems (b) Increase productivity, knowledge, and understanding.
How to demonstrate mutual respect?
Employees can demonstrate this important virtue of mutual respect by effectively managing their anger, always communicating politely, encouraging and helping each other, and abstaining from judging their peers.
