workethic notes v15 student handout

8/3/2019 WorkEthic Notes v15 Student Handout

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Presentation do you mind?

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Work Ethic Module

EICC Logistics Technician Program

Jul 2008

Objectives

Define work ethic and ethical decision making.

Examine values most sought by employers.

Assess personal values.

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Identify areas in need of improvement.

Design an action plan to improve identified areas.

Reflect on working values and preferences.


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Why Do We Talk About This?

Insufficientfoundational

skills

Low skills

From an employee/personal point of view

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LowWork Ethic

and/or holding

a good job

=Low wages

=Lower

Quality ofLife

Work Ethic = Responsible Workplace Behavior

Why Do We Talk About This?

From a management point of view

LessProductivity

Less QualityLow

Work Ethic

CustomerSatisfaction

Suffers

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Work Ethic = Healthy and Prosperous Business

$$$ Loss

Before We Continue

Ethics is a hard topic but important to explore.

We encourage you to relate your own experiences

or cases with which you are familiar.

We request that you keep everything you hear

confidential.

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No external judging of shared experiences is

allowed.

We want you to reflect and learn from life

experiences.


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Brainstorm

What isWork Ethic ?

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What does

Work Ethic involve?

Work Ethic Definition

Ethic: A code of principles and values which guideour choices and actions, and determine the purpose

and course of our lives.

Source: Character at Work Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

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Work ethic is a set of values based on the moral

virtues of hard work and diligence work ethic

may include being reliable, having initiative or

maintaining social skills.Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_ethic

Work Ethic

All of us can, in one way or another, differentiate right

from wrong in most situations

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but ethics is about character and moral courageand how we meet the challenge when doing the right

thing will cost us more than we want to pay.


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Work Ethic Personal Journal

Exercise # 1 Identify situations in your past

where it was hard to do theright thing.

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(work-related or not)

Work Ethic

EthicsStandards

of conduct

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How one should behave is based upon:

Moral Duties Obligations Virtues

Brainstorm

What are some examples of

our moral duties

and obligations ?

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How do we relate our

moral duties and obligations

to standards of conduct?


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Work Ethic

Ethics is an action concept, not just a

philosophical theory

Is vs. Ought

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Consequential vs.

Inconsequential


Exercise # 2 Identify someone you know

whom you admire for their

work habits and think what

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ma es em an examp e

If You Want Share Your Appreciation

Its always nice to let others know

when they are doing things right !

Nice surprise !

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Source: http://cbs13.com/watercooler/safe.drivers.sacramento.2.612778.html


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Work Ethic and Good Working Values

Graphic of steps to make ethical decisionsW O R K E T H I C

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Principles of Character

Josephson's Six Pillars of Character

Caring

Citizenship

Fairness

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Respect

Responsibility

Trustworthiness

Source: Character at Work Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Adapted from Josephsons Model for Making Ethical

Decisions.

Work Ethic

Lets watch the

Thank You for Smoking

movie trailer

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http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thankyouforsmoking/trailer/


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Work Ethic

When what is good for some,

is bad for others

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We need to

Make ethical

decisions !

Brainstorm

How do I make

an ethical decision ?

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What should

I consider when

making an ethical decision?

Ethical Decisions

Choices

Ethical dilemma

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Ethical Decision

Principles

1. Interest of all

stakeholders

2. Ethical > Non-ethical

3. Greatest balance of

good in the long run

Ethical principles are

the ground rules ofdecision making not

just factors to consider


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Ethical Decisions

It is OK to lose

in fact, it is better to lose than tolie, steal or cheat in order to win.

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People who are unwilling to losehave to be willing to do whatever

it takes to win.

Ethical Decisions

One Approach to Making Ethical Decisions

Identify Evaluate Decide ImplementMonitor &

Modify

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Source: Character at Work Course Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

Clarify the

problemEthical

principles

at risk?

Facts vs.

Beliefs/

Wants

Identify truth

Ponder

consequences

Decide what

to do

Plan how

to

implement

the

decision

Act

Follow

up

Follow

through


Exercise # 3 Lets consider a case that

requires make an ethical

decision.

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Case # 1Your elderly grandparents have asked you to vis it them over the

holidays. (You are away at school.) You have already signed up to

work.

The business offers double-time pay when you work holidays. Some

of your friends who are visit ing from out of town are planning great

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parties for Friday and Saturday.

Your parents (who know about work, but not about the parties)

advise you to, Do what you think is best.

You know that they really want you to spend time with your

grandparents.

What do you do?


Case # 2

You work in the administration office of a large company. You type

a confidential memo for your supervisor, l is ting the names of ten

people who will be laid off involuntarily in about one month. Your

close friend Morgans name is on the list.

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That evening, Morgan stops by to see you and shares that her

family has finally found the home of their dreams.

With both her and her husband working, they can afford the house

payment, even though money will be tight.

Do you tell Morgan about the lay off?


Graphic of steps to make ethical decisionsW O R K E T H I C

P i i l f Ch

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Principles of CharacterWorking Values


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Graphic of steps tomake ethical decisionsWORK ETHIC

Principles ofCharacter Workplace+YOU and

YOUR

CAREER

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CharacterWorkingValues

Behavior(Your Actions

and Decisions)

ect

s+THE

COMPANY

and

ITS

REPUTATION

Working Values Wanted by Employers

Work Hard

Work Smart

Dependable and Responsible

Positive Attitude

Good teammate

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Honesty and Integrity

Self Motivated

Motivated to grow and learn

Self confidence

Professionalism

Source: Attributes Employers Value Most in Candidates. Engineers Week, February 17-23, 2007.

Brainstorm

As a group

let s def ine these

w or k in va lues

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and

share the f ind ings


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Brainstorm

What other factorscan affect

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our perception

of ethics and values ?

Ethical Behavior

Ethical principles may also relate to themorals valued by our

Culture

Famil

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Spiritual and religious beliefs

Neighborhoods and communities

Ethical Behavior

Should ethical behavior changewith the jobs and professions

in which we are employed ?

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Why or why not?


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Ethical Behavior

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Ethical Behavior

It costs justpennies!

I didnt

have time!

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I t doesn ' t h u r t

anybody ! I deserve

it!

Examples of Myths of Ethical Behavior

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Ethical Behavior

Some reasons why business people act unethically

Rationalization

Bad role models in the organization

Peer pressure

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Source: What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right, Michael S. Jones,ABCNews.com, February 21, 2002

Difficulty in defining what is ethical

Corporate culture

Pressure from superiors


Exercise # 4 Assess the different

dimensions of value

in your current or

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mos recen o .

Self Assessment of Work Ethic

There is always room for

improvement !

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To exceed and excel, you must push

yourself to higher levels !


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Exercise # 5 Choose areas for improvement.

(mark your assessment)

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Brainstorm

Ideas for

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mprovemen


Exercise # 6 Create Action Plan

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Working Values and Preferences

When Working Values meets Personal Preferences

What I

likeWhat I

do

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to do wellWhat I

have

to do

Working Values and Preferences

When Working Values meets Personal Preferences

Companyexpectationsabout your

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What I

like

to do

What I

do

well

What I

have

to do

per ormance anwork ethic

become moreimportant than

personalpreferences

Working Values Personal Journal

Exercise # 7 Personal Preferences vs.

Expected Working Values

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Working Values

Articulating preferences in the job search and interview

1. Read the job description carefully.

Know what the company expects. Even jobs with the same name may require different tasks.

2. Know your strengths and weaknesses.

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3. st your s s:

Knowledge gained from education and experience

Transferable skills such as the ability to communicate, getalong with people, solve problems, plan, create, etc.

Personal traits from your areas

4. Be ready to share these during your interview, but word themin a positive way.

Work Ethic Remember

What is right and wrong

The foundation of responsible workplace behavioris ethical thinking and reasoning such as:

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What are acceptable standards of conduct

What attitudes and attributes foster and sustain

society

Work Ethic Remember

Sometimes people must choose

What I want What I want to be

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Work Ethic Remember

Ethics have a price but also a value,which makes

self-restrain, sacrifice, service and charity worthwhile.

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You will remember for years how good you felt aboutmaking a good decision.

Questions ?

Thoughts ?

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Thank you for your time !

Acknowledgments

Jennifer BestLora Kaisler

ATEEC Services

Tim Cottle

Dissemination Policy

This product was funded by a gr ant awarded under the

Presidents Community-Based Job Training Grants as

implemented by the U.S. Department of Labors Employment and

Training Administration. The information contained in this

product was created by a grantee organization (Eastern Iowa

Community College District) and does not necessarily reflect the

official position of the U.S. Department of Labor or Eastern Iowa

Community College District. All references to non-governmental

companies or organizations, their services, products, orresourcesare offered forinformationalpurposes andshouldnot

EICC Logistics

Technician Program

July 2008

Mercedes Luna-Riveror ur r r r i r i l ur ul

be construed as an endorsement by the Department of Labor or

Eastern Iowa Community College District. This product is

copyrighted by the institution that created it and is intended for

individual organizational, non-commercial use only.

Copyright 2008 EICCD, all rights reserved.

Contact Eastern Iowa Community College District for permission.

Case studies and examples are fictitious.Any similarity to persons living or dead is merely coincidental.


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References and Bibliography

4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: ColoradoState University Cooperative Extension.

Associated Press (2007, December 17). California Police Reward Good Drivers With Coffee. CBS Broadcasting Inc.Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http://cbs13.com/watercooler/safe.drivers.sacramento.2.612778.html.

Brainy Quote (2007). Selections from the database. Retrieved 20 December 2007, from http://www.brainyquote.com/.

Business Education Network (Nd.). Business and Education Partnership Work Ethic Rubric . IA: Bettendorf Chamber ofCommerce.

Committee on Standards in Public Life (2007, March 10). The Seven Principles of Public Life. London, UK. Retrieved 21December 2007, from http://www.public-standards.gov.uk/about_us/the_seven_principles_of_life.aspx.

DeMars, N. (1998, April 2). You Want Me To Do What? When Where & How to Draw the Line at Work. Simon & Schuster:Fireside Edition ISBN-13: 978-0684850467

52

. .

Jones, M.S. (2002, February 21). What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right. ABCNews.com,[as cited in Business Ethics Activity Book, the: 50 Exercises for Promoting Integrity at Work by Marlene Caroselli,AMACON publisher, June 2003 (ISBN-13: 9780814472002).

Josephson Institute. (2007). The Six Pillars. Character Counts! Retrieved January 2, 2008, fromhttp://charactercounts.org/defsix.htm.

National Engineers Week Foundation (2007, February 17-23). Attributes Employers Value Most in Candidates . Retrieved 2January 2008, from http://www.eweek.org/site/News/stats/attributes.shtml.

University of Wisconsin System, Department Chairs (2002, April 3). Ethics Seminar Outline. (Video-conference results).Retrieved 21 December 2007, from http://www.uwsa.edu/gc-off/deskbook/ethics_seminar2.doc.

Wikimedia Foundation Inc.(2007, September). Work ethic. (Wikipedia contribution derived from Daniel T. Rogers. TheWork Ethic in Industrial America, 1850-1920. Univ. of Chicago Press, 1978.) Retrieved 17 December 2007, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_ethic.

workethic notes v15 student handout

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