Ethics in the Workplace We as a society are faced with ethical dilemmas virtually every day. How we handle these situations shapes our culture. But what is ethics? According to the Miniature Guide to Ethical Reasoning, ethical reasoning involves doing what is right even in the face of powerful selfish desires. Living an ethical life means developing control over our self-centered tendencies. It's not enough to know how to do the right thing when we ourselves have nothing to lose. We must be willing to fulfill our ethical obligations at the expense of our self-centered desires and vested interests. (Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder, 2003) In short, ethics means doing what is right even when no one is looking. A company with a strong code of ethics tends to run smoothly. A society without a code of ethics degenerates into anarchy. Although the opposite has been argued, ethics are just as vital in the workplace. Ethics are essential in the workplace because a strict code of ethics provides a non-threatening environment with high employee morale, a company that displays clear ethics tends to display higher profits and simply because it is the right thing to do . The Ethics Resource Center, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to business ethics, released the results of its 2005 National Business Ethics Survey, surveying more than 3,000 workers across America. The results were discouraging. • 21% observed abusive or intimidating behavior towards employees • 19% observed lying to customers, employees, suppliers or the public • 18% observed situations that put employees' interests before those of the company • 16 % observed violations of safety regulations and misreporting of time worked (Verschoor, 2000, pp. 19-20)...... half of the document...... legroup.com.Dr. Richard Paul and Dr. Linda Elder. (2003). The miniature guide to understanding the foundations of ethical reasoning. The Foundation for Critical Thinking. Guest, E. (n.d.). SoFinesJoyfulMoments. Retrieved May 8, 2006, from Mary (Garren) Morand's website: http://sofinesjoyfulmoments.com/quotes/sermon.htmSchumann, PL (Spring/Summer 2001). A framework of moral principles for human resource management ethics. Human Resource Management Review, 11 (1/2), 93. Retrieved May 6, 2006, from http://web102.epnet.com.Verschoor, C. (2000, December). Ethical culture: the most important barrier to ethical misconduct. Strategic Finance, 87, 19-20. Retrieved May 6, 2006, from http://web107.epnet.com.Zamansky, J. (02/01/2006). At the very least, Enron's former bosses are guilty of moral bankruptcy. USA Today, 0734-7456, p. 11a. Retrieved from http://web102.epnet.com.