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Getting Out of the Ethical Garbage Dump


Ethics is a small word with big meaning and big implications. Every day as we go about our business of being workforce development professionals, we are being asked to make ethical decisions. We may not always know we are, but because of the day to day interaction with the public and the ever changing political and funding environment, our world can be a mine field of ethical decisions.

 
All that being said how does the average workforce development professional know what to do? How does the average person navigate the day to day? How can an organization prevent their organization from becoming an ethical garbage dump?

Although I am not an ethics expert, I am recommending the following:
 
§  Organizations need to define clear ethical guidelines. These guidelines determine how an organization determines its business.

 
§  Organizations should look at national organizations’ ethical guidelines for guidance. In workforce development, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) has ethical guidelines for workforce development professionals. Other state and regional workforce associations may have guidelines for review also.


§  Once an organization defines what ethical guidelines it will follow, it needs to train the staff on them. This includes staff at all levels. Everyone in an organization needs to live up to the same standards from the top down.  If there is a level of an organization that is not behaving ethically, then the whole organization is affected and ultimately the organization is an ethical garbage dump! People need to be clear on what is ethical and what is not!
 

§  Workforce development professionals should have an anonymous way to ask ethical questions and receive answers without judgment or repercussion. Some people may not come forward with their dilemmas otherwise.


§  Organizations should incorporate ethical guidelines into hiring practices. For example, ask ethical questions of job candidates at the interview.  
 

§  When the candidate becomes an employee, the organization should have the new employee sign the ethical guidelines as an acknowledgement of his responsibility.


§  Additionally, having a poster in the break room or posted in the office would be a great way to remind workforce development professionals of the organizations’ ethical guidelines.

 
Pondering Points:


§  How can individuals learn principles of ethics if formal ethics training is not provided?


§  How does your organization formalize ethics? How can this be improved or implemented if it is does not exist?


§  As a workforce development professional, do you have a way to have your ethical questions answered?


§  What are the consequences for not behaving in an ethical manner?


§  What ethical dilemmas have you faced and how did you resolve them?

 
I hope everyone is enjoying my blog posts. If anyone has an idea for one of my posts that you would like me to write about, feel free to leave a comment or send me an email at kcirincione@gmail.com. Your comments and feedback is greatly appreciated. ~ Karen Cirincione

 

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