Ethics Education

There is much debate today whether ethics belong in the workplace. Let's get real, can ethics really be taught to adults anyway? Aren't ethics instilled and culled at a young age, so any talk of "teaching" ethics at corporate training sessions becomes ludicrous? Also, even if we aren't teaching these ethical guidelines, just reinforcing them, is there any evidence that this works? Shouldn't discussion of ethics take place in a more "appropriate" setting such as the home, academia or in church?

These are important questions which need answering, especially in the climate where scandals are becoming commonplace, even expected. A certain air of resignation exists, not "if" a scandal will be uncovered in corporate America, but "when" and how bad will it be.

First off, it should be clarified that teaching ethics to adults is not what opening the discussion of ethics in the workplace is about. These values are both innate within, and learned early on from without, and no corporate training seminar has a chance to add them in if they aren't already present. Rather, discussion and reinforcement of ethical values in the workplace is a process of highlighting and placing worth upon individuals which evidence the desired ethical behaviors, as well as creating a culture of harmony and integrity that promotes productivity and teamwork.

Many companies have gone to codes of ethics or codes of conduct or perhaps principles of conduct to inform their employees as to appropriate and desired ethical morays, responses and activities. These are valuable tools, but only when brought to the forefront in a consistent, day-to-day fashion and at every level of the company. A powerpoint of the code at the company picnic once a year is grossly insufficient to instill the desired values.

Rather, a constant worth placed by management, with praise, pay and promotion lavished on those which conform to the code of ethics and diametrically opposed conduct being discouraged in an equally consistent and forceful way transforms an abstract code into a personal reality.

Thus, ethic cannot be left at home, for a successful company is one which has a culture of productivity, creativity and honesty - all which can only be instilled company-wide through a dialogue and management of ethics and behaviors in the everyday working environment.

Also, it is impossible to separate actions from ethics. Why can't we do this, or why should we do this, an employee may ask? A suitable answer becomes impossible without thoughts like, "you ought to" or "good workers behave in this manner" or so forth. While it may never reach the level of filtering into an employee's after-hours actions and belief system, placing sufficient stress on your company's required values will either create in your employee's compliance or will weed out those who refuse to abide by them.

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