How Ethical Are You?

The Lasallian Business Leadership Framework stresses the importance of using business ethics or “moral principles or standards as they apply to business policies, institutions and behaviour.” These standards are used as a guide on how businesses operate in a legal and socially responsible manner.

The site www.businessknowhow.com has developed a set of questions to find out how ethical one really is. I have reprinted the survey below and also gave my own honest answers. The questions should be answered by Agree, Disagree or Not Sure:

1.    You occasionally take home small supply items from the office like pencils and staples.

Disagree. I do not take home small supply items not just to be consciously ethical but for the simple reason that I own supplies of higher quality.

2.    You would never pad your company expense account.

Agree. Our office guidelines, as well as that of the Commission of Audit (COA), have strict rules to ensure that expenses should be supported with proper documentation.

3.    You surf the Net for non-work related matters during work time. Everyone does it.

Agree. I surf the Net for non-work related matters; however I try to do this during break periods.

4.    Calling in “sick” is OK as long as it’s not super-busy at work.

Disagree. One should call in sick only for wellness-related concerns.

5.    When your chatty co-worker gossips about everyone and anyone in the office, you simply say nothing.

Not sure. If the person that is being gossiped about is a friend, then that is the time that I would say something.

6.    You make an error and another employee gets blamed. No one would be able to trace the error back to you, but you immediately come forward to take responsibility.

Agree. It would be unfair to blame others, the Golden Rule should always apply.

7.    A company supplier gives you a holiday gift of your favourite gourmet chocolates valued at $50. You accept the gift and enjoy the chocolates.

Agree. I would accept the gift at face value and the supplier should not expect a quid pro quo treatment.

8.    A coworker’s paycheck in an unsealed envelope is placed on your desk by mistake. No one is around. You resist the temptation to peek and deliver the paycheck to its rightful recipient.

Agree. However, considering that I work in a government office and such data is public information, I have no need to take a peek.

9.    You go to the restroom and find a $50-dollar bill. Finders keepers, losers weepers.

Agree. Again, the Golden Rule.

10.  The boss is away, and your co-worker uses the time to make personal phone calls and play computer games at her workstation. Taking the opposite stance, you “give an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay.”

Not sure. If I have many pending responsibilities, I would put in an honest day’s work but If I have none, I might give in to the temptation of “slacking off.”

The Business Ethics Survey Answers and Explanations can be found at the link http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/ethics-answers.htm

I got six correct ethical responses out of ten questions. So to answer the question “How Ethical Are You?,” it seems that I need to do further reflection and self-evaluation of my values to further become a more ethical and morally-upright person.