BUSINESS ETHICS

I. LESSON DISCUSSION:
ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE
Need to imbue ethics in Public Servants
Government employees collect taxes, expend public funds, control and allot natural resources and other revenue earning
items and gather and process information for the purpose of decision making, enacting laws and public policies. They are also
involved in delivery/implementation of - justice, public services such as education, health etc., government flagship programmed, and
welfare measures and also involved in redress of public grievances. They deal with elections, day-to-day regulatory functions, law and
order and many other unforeseen events too.

Expectations from the Public Servants in Governance

 Humanism and positive thinking in government servants
 To imbue purity in thought, speech and action
 Realizing the dignity of being a government servant
 Appreciating his/her placement in government as an opportunity to serve the society rather than a lucrative position to amass
wealth
 Understanding the sanctity of Public Funds so that they utilize them without leakages thereby providing maximum benefit to
the citizens
 Ability to satisfy himself/herself with the government salary and benefits and to imbue the philosophy of ‘Simple living and
high thinking’
 Display of ‘Sense of justice and impartiality’ during decision making,
 Ability to stand up to truth despite adversity, fears and threats
 Develop self-confidence & faith in oneself and in one’s ideas even if everyone condemns them as wrong
 Motivate them to be the change they want to see in the society
 Fresh thinking, renewed energy and rejuvenation to do something extra-ordinary and useful to the society
 Empathy for citizens, especially for vulnerable sections of society such as women, children, elderly and differently abled
persons.
 Inculcate ‘Rational thinking’, ‘Self-accountability’ and ‘Self transparency’ which are benchmarks of ethical conduct.
 Finally, to motivate the employees to adhere to higher ideals in life and to walk on the path of truth and righteousness, come
what may, and become a role model for others in the society.

Developing a Strong Work Ethic

If you put your all into your work, good things will come to you.

No matter how tough life gets, if you put your all into your work, good things will come to you. Staying positive, refusing to
procrastinate and maintaining your focus are all necessary ingredients to building a strong and rewarding work ethic.

Other strategies to becoming a great worker are setting a goal of dependability, always meeting deadlines and stepping up to fill unmet
needs. Let's look closer at each of these methods to construct a sturdy work ethic:
1. Stay positive. You've probably heard the expression, "Attitude is everything". That's definitely true when you're working on
creating a resilient work ethic. Your work improves when you approach it with a positive attitude. No matter what, staying positive
about your tasks will help you become a rock star at work. You'll not only stand out to your supervisor, but your colleagues will
notice, too.
2. Refuse to procrastinate. Although you may be tempted to put off doing certain tasks or projects, make "Do it right now" your
mantra. You'll find that often jobs are quickly and easily done in less time than you would have spent obsessing about the task.
3. Keep your focus. When your plans are clear, you'll get more work done in less time. Put a sticky note on your calendar and
computer. Organize your desk the day before you plan to start that huge project. Start focused and stay focused. You'll work like a
machine when you devote your attention on the subject at hand.

Developing a Good Work Ethic Requires Real Work

Some people seem content to work just hard enough to complete the task at hand. These people are displaying what can be
called a poor work ethic. Other people work hard to complete their appointed rounds, but they are not really concerned with the
quality of their work. These people are displaying a mediocre work ethic. There are people, however, who work diligently throughout
the entire process of a job or task, and they always do a very good job no matter how much time and effort they must expend. These
people are showing everybody around them that they possess a positive or solid work ethic. In this highly competitive world, whether
people are looking for jobs, completing degree programs at colleges or universities, or simply acting as solid citizens, they should
show the world that it is both ethical and necessary to work very hard at each and every task that arises.
 Successful employees in all walks of professional life also need to bring a positive work ethic to the workplace. Competition
for jobs in contemporary society is intense; employers are thus able to scrutinize their prospective employees quite carefully.
Naturally, an employer is looking to hire somebody who is willing to tackle any task and complete it to the best of his ability in the
most expeditious way. In other words the employer is looking for an employee who possesses a solid work ethic and is proud to show
everybody that he relishes the thought of working hard.
If two employees are vying for the same position within a company, their supervisor will most likely give them both a similar
project to complete. The employee who does the best job on the project within the allotted time will receive the promotion. If both
employees complete the task within the allotted time, the employee who has done the best work will receive the promotion. More
often than not, the best work is a direct result of the best work ethic. There is no substitute for hard work on the jobsite; employers
love to see the results of a positive work ethic.

Ways to Integrate Spirituality into the Workplace

Work is where people spend much of their time. Yet our spirituality can get shut down in the act of making a living but
selling our soul. When it’s a job rather than a vocation, our personal impact declines. So how can you reverse this trend?

Here are 5 ways to invite spirituality back into your work life:
1. Start by connecting with your values
Many people search for a job that is high paying with great perks. Instead, find a place of employment focused on core values
consistent with your own. Pay close attention to what companies stand for.
Take a look at websites and annual reports. Examine mission, vision and core values statements. Are the company’s actions
in keeping with those statements? If you can, speak with others involved with the organization to get their feedback too.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you are in the unique position to set the tone for yourself. Make your own values an essential part
of the package of products or services you deliver. Never sacrifice your own values in favor of money. That’s a huge risk to your
business and an even greater one to yourself.
 2. Be the example
Draining influences of workplace stress, conflict and overload seem to be everywhere nowadays. Unfortunately, that
can spill over to your personal life as well. Illness, family issues, money problems or death can enter your life. Coping in the
workplace then becomes more difficult. That’s true for everyone.
What can you do to ease the burden for others? Begin by choosing your words and making them count.
That means your words reflect your actions. Admit when you are wrong. Celebrate the accomplishments of others. Stay away from
water cooler gossip. Tackle the sapping surroundings by raising the bar. Take the lead on encouraging cohesiveness. Propose
more communications between ownership, management, staff and departments. Bring up the idea of a weekly update to keep everyone
connected. Consider work from home arrangements. Or start a process improvement program to address problems and opportunities.
Watch for your cues. In a troubled workplace, you will have ample opportunity to stand out. Understand you are there for a
reason and make it count. Your example can spread like wildfire and enliven the culture.

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

3. Figure out what’s important to your coworkers

Take an active role by getting in tune with what’s important to those around you. That could involve a workplace issue or
something happening in their personal life. Keep the inspiration of others fueled and they will often return the favor.
How can you help? Just listening is usually a good start. When you show you are a true listener, others will be more inclined
to open up to you. Make time even when you don’t seem to have it. Don’t be judgmental. Be ready to share your own experiences too.
Pick up an extra task when a coworker is off sick or out on vacation. Try to keep things light and share a laugh or two. If you
see someone skipping a break, pick them up a snack. There will be days when you are dangling. That’s when workplace spirituality
can kick in to help you too.
4. Take a gifts inventory and take action
Part of spirituality is recognizing the gifts and goodness each one of us possesses. Once you have gone that extra mile don’t
just discard the information. What have you learned? Write it down and put this knowledge to work.
Are you a manager or entrepreneur? Tapping the creative capacity of your employees should be an important goal. That’s a
key reason workers feel appreciated. It’s also why businesses thrive. Don’t fail to realize this potential.
Permit low cost experiments. Make plenty of small risk, high reward investments. Spirituality calls for tapping hidden talents
to bring out the best in people.
From CEO to secretary, make sure everyone understands the big picture. Engage them in the strategic planning process. Ask
employees how their gifts could help achieve crystal clear outcomes. Then let the entrepreneurs do meaningful work. That’s called
Success 101.
“There is no limit to the amount of good a person can do if they don’t care who gets the credit.” – Unknown

5. Create a work environment that fosters spirituality

There are two types of individuals. One divides people; the other bonds them. Aspire to be the latter. Shared purpose results
in an enriched life experience.
 Take the pulse of your organization using a work climate survey. This is a questionnaire that can help assess work life,
what’s important to employees and working conditions. As an entrepreneur, ensure that your values are still relevant. As a manager,
be certain your values are being embraced.
Spirituality can only manifest itself under the right conditions. Be the type of person who takes the responsibility to create an
environment that fosters it.  
We are all called to do and be more. So forget about having to go undercover to discover. Invite spirituality into the
workplace to cultivate purpose.

II. REFERENCES:
 https://addicted2success.com/success-advice/5-ways-to-integrate-spirituality-into-the-workplace/
 https://www.manage.gov.in/studymaterial/workethics.pdf

III. REQUIREMENTS:
Instruction. Read thoroughly the case and answer the questions below it.
1. On Friday afternoon, several employees reported to their supervisor that an employee told them that he was going to bring in
a gun with a silencer and shoot someone.
Questions:
1. It is important that businesses have a clear policy regarding these types of threats and intimidation?
2. Businesses must consider each case on the material facts and weigh all aggravating and mitigating factors. When do you
terminate an employee with over 25 years of service?
3. What can businesses do to help the employee?
2. After workplace violence training was conducted at the organization, during which early intervention was emphasized, an
employee called the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) member of the workplace violence team for advice on dealing
with his senior coworker. He said the coworker, who had been hired at a senior professional level six months earlier, was in
the habit of shouting and making demeaning remarks to the other employees in the office. The senior coworker was skilled in
twisting words around and manipulating situations to his advantage. For example, when employees would ask him for advice
on a topic in his area of expertise, he would tell them to use their own common sense. Then when they finished the
assignment, he would make demeaning remarks about them and speak loudly about how they had done their work the wrong
way. At other times, he would demand rudely in a loud voice that they drop whatever they were working on and help him
with his project. The employee said he had attempted to speak with his supervisor about the situation, but was told not to
make a mountain out of a molehill.
Questions
1. How would your organization have proceeded with the case if the coworker had threatened the employee who spoke to
him in an assertive way?
2. As a senior manager, how would you handle this situation? How would you react to the employee’s behavior?
3. As an employee in the future, what are your ways to integrate spirituality in the workplace?