I believe that being part of the organization gives me a voice. Therefore, even if the unethical conduct is coming from my seniors, I will raise my voice, share my concerns with them, and even suggest a better way of getting the same thing done ethically.
We all expect our workplace’s corporate culture to champion honesty and behaviors that are ethical and free from immoral, unethical, or even illegal activity. Although you personally espouse the highest standards of ethical conduct, you might one day find yourself working at a company whose ethical compass seems broken or whose new initiative pushes the limits on regulatory standards or runs utterly contrary to your strong work ethic.
What do you do if you personally view, experience, or even strongly suspect that your company has undertaken an activity or endorses behavior that is counter to the moral high ground, breaks a regulation (or two), or could even be illegal?
We asked multiple industry compliance experts and lawyers for their suggestions as to what the best course of action should be if you experience an ethical quagmire at work that you have not been involved in.
One thing is clear: There are often gray areas to consider and navigate through, and handling such sticky situations with a professional demeanor and without overreaction is critical.
However, handling ethical issues in the workplace requires a steady and cautious approach to matters which can potentially be dangerous or illegal.
- Know the Law.
- Set Workplace Expectations.
- Train Your Employees.
- Put Someone in Charge.
- Be Fair When Applying Policies.