Answer the following questions

1. What are common unethical behaviors in the working place?

2. Can you think of any specific examples of unethical behavior?

3. Are there any jobs that require you to be an ethical person?

4. What can be unethical about the following jobs?

shop assistant, teacher, doctor, car salesman, plumber, accountant, construction engineer

ETHICS

Workplace ethics and behavior are a crucial part of employment. Generally, being ethical involves conducting yourself in accordance with accepted principles of right and wrong. Being ethical means acting morally right, being honest, not cheating your employer, co-workers, or customers and generally treating your co-workers well. Unethical workplace behavior can include inappropriate use of the Internet, outside-of-work activities, etc.

Companies specify what behaviors are acceptable, and they see high morale and teamwork as key ingredients for success. When hiring employees they usually address topics, such as work schedule, dress code and language, and summarize what kind of attitude is expected. Workers who fail to follow the code of conduct receive written and verbal warnings and can be fired.

It is absolutely necessary to keep professional knowledge and skills up-to-date. Besides possessing the necessary skills, being honest, doing the right thing at all times, taking responsibility for one’s actions is another key factor of workplace behavior. That means showing up on scheduled workdays, as well as arriving on time and doing one’s best in any assignment an employee gets.

Working well with others is necessary as well. It includes everyone from peers to supervisors to customers. Not all employees will like each other, but they do need to set aside their personal or even work-related differences to reach a larger goal. In many cases, those who are not considered “team players” can face demotion or even termination of their employment. You should not allow bias, conflict of interests or undue influence of others to override your professional judgments. On the contrary, those who work well with others often can advance, because teamwork can even enhance their performance.

Both bosses and employees should refrain from accepting any gifts or benefits from other organizations or customers that may have impact on their decision or performance of their duties.

Match the words from the text with the definitions.

Connect the ideas from A and B to make sentences.

A.1. Ethics and behavior; 2. Being ethical; 3. High morale and teamwork;

4. Employees who don’t follow the code of conduct; 5. Those who work well with others; 6. Those who are not considered “team players”; 7. You should refrain from taking benefits from other companies; 8. One of the key factors of ethical behavior is.

B.a. can advance. b. can be fired.

c. that may influence performance of your duties.

d. maintaining professional knowledge and skills at a high level.

e. means behaving in accordance with accepted principles of right and wrong.

f. are the main elements of success.

g. can face demotion. h. are an important part of employment.

Fill the missing words into the sentences.

1. Pay increases are now being linked more closely to ___.

2. Some people are not always as ___ or as ___ as we would like.

3. This department is making too many ___ at the moment.

4. You’ve made the right decision to ___him.

5. My ___ and several other managers warned the company about possible risks.

6. Head Office have decided to ___ the employment of some workers.

7. The manager of the purchasing department ___ cash from suppliers in return for buying large volumes at high prices.

8. He was given a verbal ___ for being late to work.

9. Don’t disclose information about ___ obtained in the course of professional service.

10. Don’t accept any ___ that might impair or appear to influence professional decisions or actions.

11. Being ethical means not ___ your employer or co-workers.

12. Would you describe yourself as being ___ and having high ___?