The Role Of Managers And Employees On Ethical Issues In The Workplace

The Responsibility of Employees in Maintaining Organizational Ethics

This following essay will look to investigate into the matter of ethical issues within the management and how employees will act ethically by using their integrity and autonomy within the organization. The role of the managers to act ethically will also be discussed in this matter as well. The different ethical theories will be discussed in this paper with the role of both the managers and employees.  If the managers go on to take some dishonest or unethical decisions within the management, it is the role of the employees to correct them using their personal integrity. The total scenario of business ethics would be discussed here with examples and explanations.

In this essay the topic that would be discussed is that of the role of the managers in different businesses from the ethical perspectives. The issue is if the ethical behaviors within the organization are the matter of managers or the personal integrity of the employees. Therefore, it is quite clear that employees have a job responsibility to keep up the reputation of the organization (Lawrence and Weber 2014). If they play their ethical roles properly, it will be helpful for the organizational managers as well. It is because they have to keep note of several other factors.  Critics have always opined that employees will have to understand their responsibilities since it will be a part of their autonomy and personal integrity to present the organization in the best manner all over the world (Jones 1991).

Some critics are of the opinion that business ethics is simply a matter of the employees. The way the employees behave in the organizations is simply their personal choice. Some employees are seen to behave in an ethical manner and some of them behave unethically. However, this has a significant impact on the organizational culture and reputation. The organizations always want to keep their reputation very clean so they do not have to lose their customers (DesJardins and McCall 2014). The good behavior from the business managers also seems to motivate the employees. The employees will only work properly if their managers behave well to them. When any single individual commits any misdeed or approach the complex situations unethically, this will have a sound and clear bad impression on the culture of the organization (Mishra, Boynton and Mishra 2014). The entire organization will have to suffer from this. The responsibility comes on the shoulder of managers and they will have to manage the situations accordingly (DesJardins and McCall 2014). 

The Role of Managers in Building Ethical Behaviors in the Workplace

The ethical context has everything to do with the decisions of the management. The values and ethics of the organization are hampered from a larger scenario (Jones 2015). Thus it has to be understood that context of ethics is both organizational and personal issue. The climate of the organization can only be strengthened if all the employees can act as per the ethical guidelines provided by the upper management (Stanwick and Stanwick 2013). So, it is quite apparent that it is the role of the managers to inculcate the value of ethics within the minds of employees (Jones 1991). This is mainly a matter of personal integrity of the employees and managers. It is because employees are definitely not children and they should know what is expected from them. They are not bound by strictest rules that they should act in this way or that (Stanwick and Stanwick 2013).

It is the managers only who can shape the organization in a better manner with the support of employees by ensuring ethical behaviors. The personal integrity of employees in assuring to behave in a ethical manner will definitely have better opportunities for benefitting organizations. The question of autonomy in this scenario is less important than personal autonomy (Lawrence and Weber 2014). When a manager or executive of an organization is unable to restrain their employees from unethical behaviors, they will face the risk of losing their customers at some time or later. Definitely the managers should look after this issue with utmost importance for future benefits (Lawrence and Weber 2014).

It has really been a matter of debate for all employees and employers. Workplace ethics is indeed a very crucial matter for everyone. Employee should see this as an issue that they must abide by (Jones 1991). This will bring them good results on the long term. On the contrary, management too, has a crucial role in inculcating ethical decisions among the workers. It is the role of senior officials of the organization that they should always set an example before all employees. Only then the organization will go on to gain the best reputation in their industry. One of the best examples of this is to reach the workplace on time. If the bosses or senior supervisors do not reach office on time, their juniors or subordinate employees will also do the same. The mangers should always be the best body that will provide inspiration to their subordinates.  

Complimentary Roles of Managers and Employees in Ensuring Ethical Behavior

Essentially the managers of teams or team leaders have a huge influence on their team members. It is only possible for the team to perform at its peak when they take ethical decisions and do what is mostly needed. In this scenario, the team members can take up leading roles in inspiring other members who has been lagging behind. Therefore, it is not at all a matter of only personal integrity (Jones 1991). When employees do not behave ethically or honestly, it is the overall responsibility of higher authority managers to lead them properly so they can behave ethically and not complete their jobs in an unethical manner. Another crucial matter in this context is whether managers or leaders should do their jobs forcefully to educate employees. Employees should not behave in a strange manner because they work as professionals and they have to satisfy their clients. In order to do this, No employee should feel guilty because of their deeds that they committee (Jones 1991). 

The employers or bosses have another responsibility as well. They should always thrive to listen to all the problems of the employees. This should be highly helpful because employees must know they have the faith and trust and trust of their supervisors. Only then ethical issues within organizations could be sorted out properly (Stevens 2008). If the bosses are so strict with employees, they will feel they are highly pressurized. In order to create troubles, they will try to commit some unethical things that will ruin the organizational culture. If the bosses want to revive the organizational culture properly, they should stress on ethical decisions being taken and ensure everything is done as per code of ethics of the organization. Therefore, the responsibility of the leaders and managers is huge in ensuring ethical behaviors within the organization. It is also unethical on the part of leaders and managers to disturb someone when he is not on duty or spending time with their families (Stevens 2008). It is also a part of good organizational culture that employees should be allowed to maintain a work-life balance. Only then employees will also response to their supervisors in a timely and ethical manner.

It can also be argued in this matter that role of managers and employees should be complimentary to each other. Therefore, managers should always attempt to make the employees feel concerned about the overall reputation of the organization (Stevens 2008). The behavior of the workers and managers is very crucial on how other stakeholders; mostly customers would look at it. So, another perspective for ensuring ethical behavior is to innovate new approaches into the scenario (Trevino, Hartman and Brown 2000). An organization can only become great as per ethical approaches when they undertake activities of corporate social responsibility. The employees can give this idea to their supervisors. In turn the managers should work on building the integrity of employees. This will be highly important since conflicts within employees will pose as a threat for the organizational sustainability. If the employees are motivated, it will have positive implications on the success of those organizations. If the ethical behaviors are inculcated among employees, it will surely draw on a positive business culture. The business culture should always be transparent and based on trust and faith on each other (Trevino, Hartman and Brown 2000). 

Innovative Approaches to Enacting Ethics in the Workplace

Critics have argued that business cultures in the organization have a huge impact on the betterment of customer reactions. The managers can opt to train their employees in a manner that they would ensure customer satisfaction (Trevino, Hartman and Brown 2000). Managers have to hold the control over the code of ethics that should be made mandatory for all workers to abide by. If someone breaks or violates this code, it will be treated with utmost severity. This ethical approach by managers will be helpful to retain the most talented employees and urge them to work for the betterment of the organization in better ways (Trevino, Hartman and Brown 2000). This is not at all a one way approach since employees have to response to the calls of managers. This is how managers can be sure that employees will be able to curb the issues properly. Thus, organizations will find a smooth path to enact in an ethical manner for the best outcomes. The brand value of the organization will rise in this way (Trevino and Youngblood 1990).

It is perhaps the responsibility of the managers that they should always care for the integrity among each other. They should be honest in their profession and try to win the confidence of all their internal and external stakeholders. This is how their approach will change the entire scenario regarding the organization (Trevino and Youngblood 1990). Winning the trust or confidence of the seniors is n important way of learning to behave ethically. There are other things in the part of the employees as well. They should learn to respect all other employees, be it their juniors or newly joined employees. They should not approach them with rude behavior as this will have a bad impact on their psychology. The managers have a huge role in ensuring this properly (Tsahuridu 2005). Employees should also have smooth accessibility to all relevant information since this is a part of their profession. The managers must opt for open discussions when any issues related to major developments should be approached. 

Another way managers can inculcate ethical behaviors within employees is by teaching them to value others (Tsahuridu 2005). If an employee on the floor learns to value another it will surely bear good impressions and he will get better opportunities in future as well.  The next option for managers is to make employees understand that teamwork is very important for the success of organizations. If employees can be able to co-exists, it will be a great benefit for the organization (Tsahuridu 2005). The common business goals for the organization should be achieved by team members. This will be a huge achievement for the entire organization to be precise. Smooth communication should be another initiative on the part of employees. The employees must be able to connect with each other. Thus a relationship of mutual trust will be built. It will enhance the business communications strategies between customers and service providers (Trevino and Youngblood 1990). Leaders should be on the frontline and make things clear employees that no dishonesty will be tolerated. If any employee makes a mistake, it should be corrected by leaders. This rectification process will guide employees for ethical behaviors.

In the concluding section, it can be stated that the role of managers is extremely essential for the benefit of organization in terms of ethics. The employees should learn from their managers on how they should behave every time.  The relationship between employees and managers should always be smooth. Managers or leaders will thrive to motivate the employees in all possible ways. Thus it is quite sure that managers have a huge role to play in presenting their organization in an ethical manner. This would be helpful for putting up a good business culture as well. Employees have to take part in supporting their leaders to establish a fair culture in their organization. In this way, both the organization will gain a fair reputation and employees would be benefitted. 

References and Bibliography

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