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CHARACTERIN THEWORKPLACE

Gerri Warden

Fleet and Family Support Center

Pascagoula, MS

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STORYTIMEAccept the Deal

Thank you but “No”

Refuse and express irritation at dishonestyRefuse, express irritation & report to insurance company

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WHAT IS ETHICS?o Standards of duty and virtue that indicate how we should behave.

o Ethics is about right and wrong and how an honorable person should behave.

o Ethics is about being a good person.

o Is vs. Ought

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It’s not the same as values.

Ethics is what you do when no one else is watching.

Imagine you were invisible and were able to do anything without consequences or repercussions.

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WHY BE ETHICAL?• It’s just good business• It’s the smart thing to do

CARING

RESPONSIBILITY

CITIZENSHIP FAIRNESS

RESPECT

TRUSTWORTHINESS

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Aspen Declaration

In 1992 an eminent and diverse group In 1992 an eminent and diverse group of educators, youth leaders, and of educators, youth leaders, and ethicists from 30 segments of our ethicists from 30 segments of our nation issued the Aspen Declaration, a nation issued the Aspen Declaration, a document asserting the primacy of six document asserting the primacy of six core ethical values that “transcend core ethical values that “transcend cultural, religious and socioeconomic cultural, religious and socioeconomic differences.”differences.”

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The Six Pillars of CharacterThe Six Pillars of Character

8We can always set the ethical bar higher!!We can always set the ethical bar higher!!

OUR WORKPLACE

SKILLS

CH

AR

AC

TER

SYSTEM

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TRUSTWORTHY

• INTEGRITY• HONESTY• PROMISE-KEEPING• LOYALTY

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RESPECTRESPECT• IT IS OUR DUTY TO TREAT

EVERYONE WITH RESPECT• Courtesy• Politeness• Dignity• Value the differences they bring into our

workplace• Tolerance (This can be hard)

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RESPONSIBILITY• Don’t make excuses• Accept responsibility for decisions• Fulfill all obligations• DO NOT over-promise

“Life is full of choices—what you do and don’t do matters”

“Choosing not to choose is a choice.”

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FAIRNESS• Listen• Make decisions based on careful and

appropriate consideration

Who do we let go?

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CARING• Compassion and concern for others• Kindness and consideration• Mercy and forgiveness• Empathy• Gratitude and Expressed Thanks

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CITIZENSHIP

• Play by the rules• Respect authority• Do your share• Within the workplace keep proper records• Follow office procedures• Be a good office neighbor and pursue the

common good

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Taking it to work. What Can the Business

Community Do?

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Expect all employees to maintain these ethics

• Trustworthiness• Respect• Responsibility• Fairness• Caring• Citizenship

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Trustworthiness

• Try to be honest and ethical in all business dealings.

• Never reveal proprietary information. • Do not tolerate lying, stealing or

deception.

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Respect • Treat everyone with courtesy, politeness

and dignity, valuing individual and cultural differences in our workplace and among those we serve.

• Listen to and communicate openly with each other and with the customers in order to build mutual respect and long-term working relationships.

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Responsibility

• Do not make excuses.• Accept responsibility for our

workplace decisions.• Fulfill all obligations.• Do not over-promise our customers.

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FairnessFairness • Listen intently to the concerns of the Listen intently to the concerns of the

customers, employees and vendors.customers, employees and vendors.• Listen to the employees and make Listen to the employees and make

decisions that affect them only after decisions that affect them only after careful and appropriate careful and appropriate consideration.consideration.

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Caring

• Truly care about each and every customer, employee and vendor.

• Commit to build long-lasting relationships to mutual benefit.

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Citizenship

• Play by the rules.• Keep proper records and follow

financial reporting procedures.• Follow all laws and regulations

… to the tee.

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Listen for the bells warning you of an ethical issue.

How will your decision look in the light? Could a reasonable fair-minded person conclude you acted improperly?

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Identify the ProblemsFill the gaps!Close gaps deliberately!

Most of us overestimateThe cost of doing the right Thing---and underestimate the Cost of failing to do so.

GAP

GAP GAP