Ethics in the Workplace is the single most important attribute which leads to Sustainable Development.The Process of taking Ethical Decisions is very crucial in this context.

1. By
Dr Satyanarayana Dash, IAS (retd)

2.  In simplest terms, the word “Ethics” refers to
the application of moral principles in the way
we conduct our individual or group behavior
 Morals are the principles of right and wrong
behavior that are agreed upon by Society,
Examples– (1) Don’t lie or cheat (2) Don’t hurt
others (3) Don’t Steal (4) Speak respectfully to
your Superiors
 Ethics comes from the Greek Word “Ethikos”
meaning Customs, Habit.

3.  Although morals are generally seen as
separate from religion, most religions have
strict codes of Moral Behavior. The morals we
share as a Society are often based on the
moral teachings originally found in religion.
Fortunately, most religions & Societies hold
similar morals, so what is moral in one
country or to one religion is often the same
elsewhere

4.  Descriptive Ethics:-It is closely related to
Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology and
consists of studying and describing the
morality of a people, culture & Society.
 Normative or Prescriptive Ethics:-Practical
means of determining moral Course of
Action. This may involve articulating Good
Habits to acquire and answers the Question--
-”What should one do ?”

5.  Meta ethics:- It goes into the roots of our
Ethics and discovers the origin of the Cause
of Right or Wrong. It traces theoretical
meanings of Moral Propositions and responds
to Questions such as– “What is Goodness ?”
 Applied Ethics:-Considers how moral
outcomes are achieved in specific situations.
Examines Controversial Issues such as
abortion, infanticide, animal rights,
environment considerations, Homosexuality,
Capital Punishment, Nuclear War.

6.  Relativism: There is no Universal Standard by which
Morality can be judged. What is correct for one society
could be improper for another.
 Egoism: Ethical Behavior is one in which the individual
promotes his own interest. This does not mean he should
not obey the Law of the Land.
 Utilitarianism : Morality of Action is determined by
consequences. An action is Ethical if it results in greatest
good of the greatest number . An Action is justified if it
maximizes utility of maximum people.
 Deontologism: Derived from Greek word “Deon” meaning
Duty. Duty is performed observing rules laid down. Hence
actions can not be justified by their Consequences if rules
have not been followed. Ends can not justify means if
means have not followed rules.

7.  Ethics refers to a series of Rules provided to
an individual by External Source. Morals refer
to an individual’s own principles regarding
what is right or wrong.
 Moral Ethics are rules that help us tell the
difference between right and wrong. Values
tell us what is important. Morals tell us what
is good or bad.

8.  Many Laws are based on Ethical Principles, which
are in turn based on morals. If something is
unethical, it is usually illegal. But not Everything
that is illegal is unethical. For Example, say, you
forget to feed your Parking meter while you are
having lunch with your friend. You may get a
ticket, as you are technically breaking the Law.
But being forgetful is not unethical. Or you may
not be able to produce your Car Registration
Certificate as you have left it at Home. You may
be asked to pay a fine . But you are still an ethical
person.

9.  Supposing you are a Police Officer and you
pull out an unarmed man from his car. He
may have been speeding, but instead of
giving him a Challan, you along with four
other constables beat him black and blue.
This activity of yours is both unethical and
illegal as you are hurting someone who can
not fight back.

10.  Ethics must be applied every time you have to make a
decision about what is the right thing to do . Is it
wrong to use Company E mail for personal purposes?
Is it wrong to play Computer games office equipment
during work? Or you overheard two clerks talking
about “ There is no harm in taking some cream from
the top”. Should you tell the Boss about their Plans
for embezzlement ?Suppose your Boss promises you
extra allowance if you could operate Computer
WindowsVista . You badly need the money as you
have three kids. But you are not familiar with the
software that well. Thus there is lot of pressure in the
work place. When your salary depends on the Choices
you make, it can be hard for Good People always to
take the right decisions

11.  It takes good character to make Ethical Decisions.
There are Seven steps to Ethical Decision
making:-
 Step 1: Stop & Think: Some Ethical Decisions
must be made very quickly, but if you have time,
Stop and Think about the issues clearly
 Step 2: Review Long Term Goals : Think of Long
Term Goals of yourself and of the Organization.
Your long term goal is never to fall foul of the
Law, to be someone people respect, and being
able to have good night’s sleep at night. Then
remind yourself that it is worth taking Ethical
decisions.

12.  Step 3:Determine the Facts in your workplace:
You may find someone else cheating or behaving
unethically and feel obligated to turn them in.
However, you can not act on suspicion alone. You
must have all the facts.
 Step 4: Consider all the Options: Either consider
doing nothing, or gather more information or do
the thing you feel right . As for doing the right
thing, you may have several options to choose
from and it can be hard to know which one is the
best. Look at the merit and pros/cons of all
decisions

13.  Step 5:Consider the Consequences of the
items on your list of possible actions and
whether this would require lying, cheating,
hurting others or being disrespectful. In that
case, you may cross it off the list. Ask your
self how you would feel if everyone knew your
decision ; A Decision that looks good if no
one else knows about it, may eventually turn
out to be the wrong choice.

14.  Step 6: Choose your Decision Finally : Eventually
you choose a Course of Action/Decision and you
will be responsible for the outcome in future. You
can take help of a Mentor, may be a known
Senior Knowledgeable, Trustworthy &
Responsible Officer to help you choose a Course
of Action.
 Step 7: Monitor Results : Sometimes we take
decisions with imperfect knowledge, such
decisions may turn out badly. So monitor and see
that all bad decisions are not repeated in future.
Analyze bad Decisions to see why they went bad
and never repeat such errors in future.

15.  Quick Tips: Resist the Urge to pass critical
decisions to some of your peers, assuming
they will know what to do.
 Sometimes you will see that some people are
hurt by your Decisions and there is no choice
. Then make a Choice that hurts fewest
people

16.  Transparency Test: Ask yourself the
Question—Am I Happy to make my Decision
fully public ?
 Effects: Ask yourself the Question– Have I
avoided the harmful/hurtful effects of my
Decisions ?
 Fairness: Ask yourself the Question--- Is my
Decision Fair to everybody ?
If your answers to all these questions is “Yes”,
then your Decision is Ethical

17.  Values are the Constellation of standards or
qualities, characteristics or Ideas that
determines a person’s view of the World.---
Edward Spranger
 Such standards/Ideas are likes, dislikes,
viewpoints, inner inclinational, rational and
irrational judgments and associated patterns.
Value provide foundations for understanding
a person’s personality, perception and
attitudes.

18.  Value is a Powerful Force affecting Behavior. They
carry a Person’s judgmental element as to what is
right or desirable
 Personal Value denote an individual’s sense of
what is right or wrong. Such values serve as
standards of behavior and guideline for decision
making and conflict resolution, motivation &
perception, attitudes and behavior.
 Study shows that 40% Value is genetically
determined and balance given by Environmental
Factors--- Culture, Parents, Teachers,
Friends/Peers

19.  Traditional: Hard Work, Conservative,
Traditional Loyalty to Organization
 Current: Job Satisfaction, Leisure Time,
Loyalty to Relationship, Flexibility in Career
 Negative Values: Anger, Meanness,
Arrogance, Crookedness, Greed/Lust
 Business Value : Mentoring, Giving Credit to
Deserving, Honesty, Caring, Trust, Openness,
Risk Taking , Social Conscience & Social
Responsibility

20.  Pre moral Period: (up to 5 years):In this
period, Parents and older siblings are more
tolerant of one’s behavior.
 Moral Realism: (5-10 years)– In this period,
children observe their parents and older
people and learn about societal mores/rules.
Rules exist outside of themselves and rules
must not be questioned.
 Autonomous Morality: (10 years and above)—
Children look behind the Societal Rules and
question the arbitrariness, is any.

21.  U.K.– Trevelyan Report, 1853, Civil Service
Code, 1996 and revised in 2006, Lord Nolan
Report in 1995
 USA---Code of Ethics 1958, Ethics of
Government Act of 1978,Office of
Government Ethics and post of Ethics
Commissioner 1989
 OECD--- Code of Ethics 1998
 UNO--- Code of Ethics & Conduct 1996

22.  Conduct Rules for Government Servants---
Central Civil Services Conduct Rules, 1964,
Odisha Government Servants’ Conduct Rules
1959. Conduct Rules contains Rules mostly
regarding what conduct is misconduct and what
not to do. A Code of Ethics on the other hand,
prescribes what to do and in what manner.
 First Draft Code of Ethics was prepared by
Department of Personnel & Administrative
Reforms in May 1997 and discussed at meetings
held by PM, but not finalized

23.  A Draft Public Services Bill was prepared in 2006 and some
discussions have taken place & comments have been
called
 Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in its
4th Report (2007) has recommended Promoting a Culture
of Integrity, Finalization of a Code of Ethics, Tightening of
Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, Creating office of Lok
Pal/Lok Ayukta/ Ombudsman, Confiscation of Property of
Corrupt Public Servants
 Second ARC 10th Report---Code of Ethics for Public
Services, Deletion of Article 311 of Constitution of India
and Legislation under Article 309 for violation of Code of
Ethics to be treated as misconduct for starting Disciplinay
Action, Inculcating the spirit of Integrity, Impartiality &
Commitment in Public Services

24.  कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते र्ा फलेषु कदाचन।
 र्ा कर्मफलहेतुर्भमर्ाम ते सङ्गोऽस््वकर्मणि॥ २-४७
You have Right to Action, but not to the
fruits of such Actions, Let not fruits of Action
be your Motive nor Inaction your Companion.

25.  योगस्थ: कु रु कर्माणि संगं त्यक्तत्वम धनंजय ।
ससद्धयससद्धयो: सर्ो भूत्वम सर्त्वं योग उच्यते ॥
In this verse, Lord Krishna is advising Arjuna
to perform action by dwelling in union with
the Divine and at the same time renouncing
all the attachments. He is advising Arjuna to
remain evenly balanced in both success and
failure. This is how Karma Yoga philosophy
leads to equilibrium or equanimity of mind.

26.  बुद्धधयुक्ततो जहमतीह उभे सुकृ तदुष्कृ ते
। तस्र्मद्योगमय युज्यस्व योग: कर्ासु कौशलं ॥
In above verse, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that
- United to the pure reason, one abandons
both good and evil deeds and thus cleaves
oneself to Yoga. Yoga can therefore be
termed as skill in action.