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Chapter Eight

Laws and Codes of Ethics

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Ethics and the Law

A society is a group of people who are bound by common laws, which are based upon social conventions and attitudes.

When attitudes change, accepted social conventions are questioned.

When enough people question a social convention, the law that is based on it is changed.

When a law is changed, in time social attitudes adopt a new social convention or expectation.

(Continued)

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Ethics and the Law

The law reflects society’s required standards of conduct.

Ethics includes standards of conduct that go beyond what is required by law. The overlap is where our ethics is in accordance with the law.

ethics

law

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Purpose of a Code of Ethics

A code of ethics is a formal record of which behaviours are morally acceptable and which are not, based on the values and principles that are important to the organization or the individual whose code it is.

It is comprised of conscious, deliberate and fully-considered ethical choices.

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Personal Code of Ethics

A Personal Code of Ethics…

• Defines who you want to be. • Converts your values and beliefs into

actions.• Sets a guideline for future ethical

decisions.• Provides a personal benchmark of

moral behaviour.

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Writing a Code of Ethics

1. Ensure that it is relevant and acceptable to those expected to follow it.

2. Identify the values and principles on which the code is to be based.

3. Transform those values and principles into written ethical behaviours.

4. Decide how to logically organize the ethics.

5. Review and revise the code regularly.

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Identifying Values and Principles

What values do you think should be reflected in a code of ethics?

What principles do you think are important to live up to individually and professionally?

What laws, school and workplace policies are relevant to your code?

What professional standards do or will apply to you?

What basic human rights should be upheld in your code?

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Transforming Values and Principles into Behaviours

Values and principles = broad, general statements about what is important.

Ethics = action statements.

Ethical behaviours are clear, specific action statements which are based on values and principles and are relevant to individual roles and relationships.

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Writing Ethical Behaviours

Transform “honesty” into an ethical behaviour relating to your teacher.

Example: Tell your teacher the true reason for missing an assignment deadline.

Transform “honesty” into an ethical behaviour relating to your employer.

Example: Don’t call in sick to get a paid day off for personal reasons.

Transform “honesty” into an ethical behaviour relating to your friend or partner.

Example: Tell your friend where you really were last night even if he/she will be upset.

(Continued)

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Writing Ethical Behaviours

Values/ Principles

Parents Employer Friends Partner

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Organizing a Code of Ethics

Organize the ethical behaviours by…

1. Grouping values and principles together under broad subheadings.

2. Writing ethical behaviours for each area of responsibility.

3. Writing ethical behaviours for each personal / professional relationship.

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Organizing by Grouping Values and Principles

Professional attitude and demeanor - include values such as promptness, reliability,

professional appearance.

Laws, professional standards, company policies- include reference to applicable laws, standards and

policies and where to locate them.

Maintaining good personal relations- include values such as courtesy, respect, honesty,

helpfulness, loyalty.

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Organizing by Areas of Responsibility

Quality job performance - include behaviours such as coming to work rested

and substance-free and not doing personal tasks on work time.

Keeping skills up-to-date - include behaviours such as reading work-related

material and attending conferences or training sessions to maintain/upgrade your skills.

Relationship practices - include behaviours such as listening, supporting,

helping, encouraging and making time for others.

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Organizing by Personal / Professional Relationships

Supervisors - include behaviours such as being honest, getting

work done on time, following instructions.Fellow employees - include behaviours such as being helpful, being polite

and friendly, not criticizing them behind their back.Clients - include behaviours such as promptly filling orders,

giving good service, listening to complaints.Friends and family members - include behaviours such as listening, supporting,

helping, encouraging and making time for them.

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Reviewing and Revising a Code of Ethics

Why should you regularly review your code of ethics?

Why might you need to revise your code?

What sorts of revisions might be necessary in the future?