Ethical Workplace
Submitted by barcode 2x on Tue, 03/18/2008 - 23:28.
Originally submitted by: barcode 2x
You may have experienced or witnessed an ethical dilemma at work. This comes in many forms; there are large infractions like the breach of confidentiality, and small ones like what to do if you find money on the floor in the break room. Establishing respect and trust in the workplace does wonders to regulate ethics. Do you trust your boss? Is your business transparent? Are there secrets or intrigues that are going on behind your back? How does your organization rate on the ethics scale? And if your business is bending the rules or playing with ethical fire, how can you expect your employees to act ethically, or act in the company's best interest?
- Login or register to post comments
- Email this Forum topic
Ethical Workplace
Originally submitted by: A Vegan
I guess this should be in the ethical advice section (too late.). I have been working for two years at a small company. I am good at my work. My boss is an equal opportunity abuser. He makes jokes about my co-workers past errors, never letting them forget them. He ignores certain people who have good ideas (if the same idea comes from someone he likes, he recognizes it as a great idea). He shouts at one of my co-workers all the time. Generally, he leaves me alone, but I am sometimes signaled out because I am a vegan. he makes jokes and derogatory remarks about it to anyone who will listen. And everyone does, because he is the boss.
I can't leave this job right now. Any ideas?
Re:Ethical Workplace
Originally submitted by: barcode 2x
Are the remarks hurtful? Are they intended to be malicious? Does your boss mind when you poke fun at him? Maybe you should consider the true harm that these remarks could do. Are they just words? Are they just banter? Has your boss crossed the line and gone into abusive or harrassive territory? Maybe these little rude comments are part of the job; it's one of the things you have to put up with. I wouldn't advise making a huge deal out of it (not in this job market!). Do you have a middle manager who could advise you? Or someone who has worked there longer, who could tell you the best course of action?
boss who makes derogatory references to my choices
Originally submitted by: A Vegan
He is not just rude about my being a vegan. I think one of the problems that I have with it is that he causes everyone else to be anti-vegan. Some of my co-workers are supportive though. I don't impose my ideas on anyone else. I want to be left alone.
Re:boss who makes derogatory references to my choices
Originally submitted by: Administrator
Bake some cookies this Friday and bring them into work. When your boss remarks how delicious they are, you can smile and say 'Thanks. They're vegan.' Maybe it's too cute, and maybe it's not a real solution, but it beats conflict in the workplace over personal choices. The workplace is the workplace. It's no place for personal comments or personal business. I had a coworker who liked to talk my ear off with her personal business. She did not realize that most of her personal beliefs I found disagreeable. She would go on and on about her health, her politics, her family, etc. During these times, absolutely no work was being done! It's good to get along with your coworkers, and when there is conflict, it makes the work environment extremely uncomfortable. If you have trouble with your boss, try talking to co-workers about it, in an inquisitive manner, for example: 'Are you ever bothered by the little comments that Mr. _______ makes?' But be sure to have this conversation outside the workplace, off hours. And be sure that you are speaking in confidence. The last thing you want is for any of this to come back to your boss, second hand.