2. HRM is engaged in the process of identification and the development of suitable
manpower resources within the parameters of the socio-legal framework of the
organization
Ethics in HRM basically deals with the affirmative moral obligations of the employer
towards employees to maintain equality and equity justice.
The ethical business contributes to the business goals as the employees will feel
motivated and they will work with efficiency and effectiveness.
Ethics in Human Resource Management
3. 1. Discrimination Issues
2. Suppression of Democratization in
workplace
3. Privacy Issues
4. Safety at workplace
5. Health Issues
6. Performance Appraisals
Areas of HRM Ethics
4. Discrimination Issues
Based on gender, age, race, religion,
disabilities, weight and attractiveness
It reflects on recruitments & promotions
Weeding out youthful candidates though
they’ve requisite qualification by
seeking only experience candidates
Less likely to recruit lady candidates
(resignation after marriage, maternity
leave)
Preference for candidates belonging to
a particular caste or community.
Discrimination in employment,
remuneration & growth prospects
5. Suppression of democratization in workplace
Suppress democratic rights &
representation of employees in bodies
that promote such interests.
Defeat the collective bargaining and
other rights by bribing union leaders,
strike breaking etc.
6. Privacy Issues
Fetching personal information
of employee
Workplace surveillance
Tapping of phones
Accessing computer files
without consent
In US, invasion of employee
privacy is a criminal offence
Vulnerable Area:
1. Recruitment & selection
2. Performance tracking
3. Privacy issues of
computerized employee
records.
4. Electronic surveillance
7. Safety & Health
To ensure productivity, safe and healthy
working environment should be ensured
Hazardous industrial environment
High speed & noisy machinery
High temperature
Increasing reliance on chemicals
Construction
Underwater tunneling, drilling &
mining
Underground works
Stress arising due to productivity
pressure, targets, job demands
Eg: In a tragedy took place at Bhopal
in which many people died or got
disabled due to inhaling poisonous
gas, UCC and the Indian Govt. have
shown little sympathy to the miseries
of the employee victims
8. Performance Appraisals
The evaluator should have an ethical bent of mind to evaluate their
employees
Overall objective of performance review:
To offer the top management an honest & ethical assessment of employees
To help employees improve their efficiency and effectiveness to the
organization
In many cases, performance review is done based on extraneous factors like:
Personal relationship, Opinion of colleagues, Caste/community/religion
9. Case Study
The Phaneesh Murthy Sexual Harassment case
Verbal sexual harassment, unwanted sexual advancements and unlawful termination
of employment against Phaneesh Murthy, Infosys
HMSI-Better wages cannot suppress workers demand for their rights
Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India (HMSI) tried to suppress the formation of
employee union in the company
10. HRM should be guided by highest principles
of integrity & devotion to the welfare of
employees.
It has to be an instrument to create economic
growth by upholding the dignity of moral
values and principles
Conclusion