Work Ethics

Introduction

It is not uncommon for employers to ask prospective employees questions regarding their work ethic during an interview.

Is That Ethical?

A work ethic is a set of professional work standards an employee demonstrates in his job. Work ethic affects the way an employee interacts with team members, co-workers and overall attitude towards his job. Your reputation is formed by your attitude and work ethic and determines how people view you personally and professionally.

When analyzing your work ethics ask yourself these questions:
What are my priorities about work?
What is my attitude about work?
How much effort do I put into my work?
Do I accept responsibility and do things without being asked?
What is my attitude when dealing with others?
How do others describe my work ethic?

Good Work Ethics

The following traits demonstrate good work ethics.

Integrity

- - high standards for personal accountability
consistently makes good choices and does the right thing

Trustworthy

honesty in dealing with all stakeholders
tells the truth
keeps information confidential

Respectful

reflects tolerance and acceptance of diversity towards all stakeholders
communicates in a non-threatening manner
behaves civil and courteous towards all stakeholders

Responsible

can be counted on to be punctual, perform duties and help others
follows company policies and code of conduct
reliable

Fairness

shows impartiality
treats others equally without favoritism or prejudice

Diversity

Diversity refers to the ways in which people are similar or different from each other. Diversity encompasses race, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, tenure, organizational function, education, background, and more. Working with diverse groups requires a work ethic that is sensitive to the differences of others.

Watch the presentation below to learn about diversity.

Diverse Teams

Working Effectively in Diverse Teams requires:

Respecting cultural differences and working effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds
Responding open-mindedly and fairly to different ideas and values
Supporting and respecting social and cultural differences to create new ideas and increase both innovation and quality of work

Harassment in the workplace based on protected characteristics such as gender, race, age, or disabilities, as well as discrimination based on these traits is illegal in the United States. Companies have specific policies that govern behavior and ethics outlined in the employee handbook, also called code of conduct or code of ethics. Failure to follow these policies is grounds for dismissal.

Consider what your work ethic says about you. Is your behavior consistent with how you would like to be seen by others?

Interested in learning more about work ethics?

Did you know your employer has certain entitlements? Watch the video below to learn who is entitled to what - and what your work ethic has to do with it.

Challenge

Do you know what it means to have good work ethics? Try the challenge below to test your knowledge.

Takeaway

Today’s life and work environments require far more than thinking skills and content knowledge. The ability to navigate the complex life and work environments in the globally competitive information age requires students to pay rigorous attention to developing adequate life and career skills.

Work Ethics Summary

FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY
Adapt to Change

Adapt to varied roles, jobs responsibilities, schedules and context
Work effectively in a climate of ambiguity and changing priorities

Be Flexible

Incorporate feedback effectively
Deal positively with praise, setbacks and criticism
Understand, negotiate and balance diverse views and beliefs to reach workable solutions, particularly in multi-cultural environments

INITIATIVE AND SELF-DIRECTION
Manage Goals and Time

Set goals with tangible and intangible success criteria
Balance tactical (short-term) and strategic (long-term) goals
Utilize time and manage workload efficiently

Work Independently

Monitor, define, prioritize and complete tasks without direct oversight

Be Self-directed Learners

Go beyond basic mastery of skills and/or curriculum to explore and expand one’s own learning and opportunities to gain expertise
Demonstrate initiative to advance skill levels towards a professional level
Demonstrate commitment to learning as a lifelong process
Reflect critically on past experiences in order to inform future progress

SOCIAL AND CROSS-CULTURAL SKILLS

Interact Effectively with Others

Know when it is appropriate to listen and when to speak
Conduct themselves in a respectable, professional manner

Work Effectively in Diverse Teams

Respect cultural differences and work effectively with people from a range of social and cultural backgrounds
Respond open-mindedly to different ideas and values
Leverage social and cultural differences to create new ideas and increase both innovation and quality of work

PRODUCTIVITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Manage Projects

Set and meet goals, even in the face of obstacles and competing pressure
Prioritize, plan and manage work to achieve the intended result

Produce Results

Demonstrate additional attributes associated with producing high quality products including the abilities to:

Work positively and ethically
Manage time and projects effectively
Multi-task
Participate actively, as well as be reliable and punctual
Present oneself professionally and with proper etiquette
Collaborate and cooperate effectively with teams
Respect and appreciate team diversity
Be accountable for results

LEADERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITY
Guide and Lead Others

Use interpersonal and problem-solving skills to influence and guide others toward a goal
Leverage strengths of others to accomplish a common goal
Inspire others to reach their very best via example and selflessness
Demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior in using influence and power

Be Responsible to Others

Act responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind

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