Work on your employee ethics! Find out all you can about the do’s and don’ts of being an efficient employee.

Employee Ethics

Ethics define us. They direct our actions and these actions, in turn, define our karma and life. But respecting parents, loving siblings and being loyal to one’s spouse are not the only ethics that govern life for us. Life, these days, is also governed by how we are when we are at our second home - workplace. Our actions at our workplace are defined and directed by a set of rules called employee ethics, also commonly known as a code of conduct. All the ethical expectations of a company from its employees are clearly laid down in this document, along with procedures of ascertaining misconduct and measures thereto. The workplace is not just second home because of the amount of time that a person spends there, it is so because of the responsibilities that individuals have there and the resultant bread-and-butter that it generates. It is, therefore, considered a moral responsibility of the employees to maintain the sanctity of work by maintaining their ethical standards and procedures to utmost precision.
 
Employee Do’s And Don’ts
 
Maintaining Ownership
As an employee, you are required to act responsibly and with utmost diligence and maturity. Encourage and inculcate a sense of proprietary interest in and around yourself. Respect resources like the furniture & fittings, power and electricity, gadgets and equipments, materials and tools etc. Do not overuse or exploit them for personal benefit.
 
Health Issues
Every employee must take up responsibility and care in the prevention of injury and ill-health not only to him/her, but to others in the workplace as well, by sticking to all occupational safety requirements. Managers must initiate necessary steps to ensure that the required precautions are taken to avoid work-related injury and ill health to team members.
 
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is defined as: physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favors, sexually colored remarks, showing pornography or other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature. Employees must never, under any circumstances indulge or involve themselves in any of such activities. They must, in fact, make a note of reporting such issues, with due proofs, to the concerned authority as soon as noticed.
 
Whistleblowers’ Conduct
Every instance of uncalled-for step in the company must be first reported to the concerned authority or specific board. Whistle blowing directly to external authorities is an unprofessional and desperate measure and can be resorted to only under desperate and perceivably unmanageable circumstances.
 
General Maturity
  • Employees must always strictly adhere to the required hours of work.
  • All beliefs and values at workplace must be duly respected and accepted.
  • Employees must refrain from accepting bribes in cash or kind from any of the company’s associates, i.e., customers, colleagues or suppliers etc.
  • Any sort of thefts or inappropriate removal or possession of property is considered a breach of contract with the organisation.
  • One must never opt for falsification of attendance records.
  • Working under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, possession, distribution, sale, transfer or use of alcohol/illegal drugs in the workplace, are acts of severe violation and symbols of severe unprofessionalism.
  • All employees must keep their personal religious sentiments to themselves and ensure that such sentiments do not disturb or hurt others.
  • Employees must stick religiously to official dress-code and do not venture into inappropriate clothing while at work.
Major Acts Of Misconduct
  • Fighting or threatening violence in the workplace.
  • Boisterous or disruptive activity in the workplace.
  • Insubordination or other disrespectful conduct.
  • Smoking in prohibited areas.
  • Sexual or other unlawful or unwelcome harassment.
  • Possession of dangerous or unauthorized materials, such as explosives or firearms, in the workplace.
  • Excessive/Unauthorized absence from workstation during the work time.
  • Unauthorized use of telephones, mail system, or other company-owned equipment.
  • Unauthorized disclosure of business "secrets" or confidential information.
  • Violation of personnel policies.

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