1. Professional Ethics

2. What are Ethics?. Ethics can be defined broadly as “A set of moral principles or values”. Or…

3. Ethics Defined A system of moral principles. Or…

4. Ethics Defined The rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions or a particular group, culture, etc. Or…

5. Ethics Defined A branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

6. A Possible Way of Thinking About Ethics: Ethics is a study of “what ought to be”.

7. Why People Act Unethically The person’s ethical standards are different from those of society as a whole. The person chooses to act selfishly. In many instances, both reasons exist.

8. A Person’s Ethical Standards Differ from General Society EmbezzlersCon artistsShoplifters Most people who commit such acts feel no remorse when they are apprehended because their ethical standards differ from those of society as a whole.

9. A Person Chooses to Act Selfishly – Example Person A finds a briefcase containing important papers and $1,000. He tosses the briefcase and keeps the money. He brags to his friends about his good fortune. What would YOU do???

10. Rationalizing Unethical Behavior Everybody does it. If it’s legal, it’s ethical. Likelihood of discovery and consequences

11. Ethical Dilemmas An ethical dilemma is a situation a person faces in which a decision must be made about appropriate behavior.

12. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas 1. Obtain the relevant facts. 2. Identify the ethical issues from the facts. 3. Determine who is affected.

13. Resolving Ethical Dilemmas 4. Identify the alternatives available to the person who must resolve the dilemma. 5. Identify the likely consequence of each alternative. 6. Decide the appropriate action.

14. Ethical Dilemmas Bob is planning to graduate high school in two weeks. His entire family is gathering to celebrate the occasion, including his grandparents who are flying from Florida. Bob currently has a low D in economics class, which is required to pass to participate in graduation ceremonies. Bob is very nervous about passing the final examination. Bob’s friend, Chris, tells him he has a copy of the final exam. What should Bob do?

15. Ethical Dilemmas Sally’s family does not have much money. Each month is a struggle to pay rent, utility bills, and food. Sally’s mom works two jobs 16 hours each day to support the family. Sally wants to buy a present for her mom’s upcoming birthday, but Sally has no money. On the way home from school, Sally finds a wallet with $307 in it. What should Sally do?

16. Ethical Dilemmas Sally’s family does not have much money. Each month is a struggle to pay rent, utility bills, and food. Sally’s mom works two jobs 16 hours each day to support the family. Sally wants to buy a present for her mom’s upcoming birthday, but Sally has no money. On the way home from school, Sally finds a wallet with $307 in it. What should Sally do?

17. Ethical Dilemmas Your supervisor enters your office and asks you for a check for $150.00 for expenses he tells you he incurred entertaining a client last night. He submits receipts from a restaurant and lounge. At lunch your supervisor’s girlfriend stops by to pick him up for lunch and you overhear her telling the receptionist what a great time she had at dinner and dancing with your supervisor the night before. What do you do?

18. Ethical Dilemmas In your spare time at work, you have developed a new spreadsheet program on the personal computer in your office. It is even more powerful, yet easier to use than anything on the market. You share your new program with a friend who encourages you to market it on your own because you could probably make an incredible profit in a very short time. This is a very attractive option, yet you developed it using company equipment and during time that you were at work. What do you do?

19. Ethical Dilemmas You are a rookie officer assigned to a training officer for the first six months of your employment. The training officer is a 20-year veteran and is a close friend of the Assistant Chief of Police. The third day that you are working with him you respond to a burglary call at a local convenience store. It is 2:30 am and the manager has been notified. You are directed to wait 30-35 minutes for his arrival. A short time later you observe your partner take a soda, candy and a bag of chips. He consumes the soda and chips. When the manager arrives, the two of you depart. What, if anything, should you do?

20. Ethical Dilemmas You have a student who is from a single parent family. The student must work to attend college. However, the job is interfering with the student’s performance and several assignments have not been turned in. You have determined that a “D” is all the student can make when a counselor informs you that the student need a “C” to qualify for an academic scholarship.’ What do you do?

21. Special Need for Ethical Conduct in Professions Our society has attached a special. meaning to the term professional. A professional is expected to conduct himself or herself at a higher level than most other members of society.

22. Ethical Principles 1. Responsibility Professionals should exercise sensitive and moral judgments in all their activities. Professionals should accept the obligation to act in a way that will serve and honor the public. 2. Public Interest

23. Ethical Principles 3. Integrity Professionals should perform all responsibilities with integrity to maintain public confidence. Members should be objective, independent, and free of conflicts of interest. 4. Objectivity and Independence

24. Ethical Principles 5. Due Care Professionals should observe the profession’s standards and strive to improve competence. 5. Confidentiality Professionals should observe the privacy of others.