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Values and Ethics in the Workplace

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“Values and Ethics in the Workplace”
Many companies market their brands by creating commercials and advertisements that showcase their commitment towards values and ethics. These marketing tricks draw us in, as consumers and as people because we relate to the commitment that they show. We relate because we all have our own sets of personal values and ethics that we have adapted to our lives. Growing up, our role models, religious beliefs and other influences helped shaped our personal values and ethics. It is easy to see where we get our own values and ethics, but what shapes a company’s values and ethics? To answer this question we must define what values and ethics are. Once we understand these definitions we can determine the sources of values and ethics in a professional environment and what impact these values and ethics might have on a company’s success. There are several definitions for the word “values”. In this case, the most relevant definition indicates that: “Values refer to moral principles or other judgments of worth” (Values, 2006, para. 1). As people, we develop our systems of values and moral beliefs according to what influenced us in our early years. Our values and morals are our personal guidelines or compasses that help us make decisions about what is right and what is wrong. With an understanding of values a person can act ethically. Acting ethically involves analyzing or interpreting a situation and deciding what is the “right” way to behave using one’s inner-guiding moral principles, values and beliefs (Jones & George, 2007).
In a work environment, “professional ethics are standards that govern how members of a profession, whether they are managers or workers, make decisions when the way in which they should behave is not clear-cut” (Jones & George, 2007, p. 105). Companies refer to their ethical guidelines to make sure that

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