The importance of an ethical environment in the workplace cannot be underestimated since it supports the employer’s positive reputation and improves the moral state of the employees. Nowadays, it is inadmissible for a company, especially for the popular one, to violate basic ethical rules because it can damage one’s business and make it lose a significant part of its profits. Moreover, the violation of specific regulations would cause lawsuits, which would also cost money. Creating an optimal ethical environment is essential for one’s company since it improves employees’ morale and aids in maintaining the leading business positions.
Personally, I believe that written policies are an essential part of a company’s ethical environment. First, they establish expectations for every employee of the company. Moreover, it discusses the exact rules that should be followed in the specific establishment. For example, written policies determine the fines for theft, describe proper resource usage rules, and define the characteristics all employees should embrace. Creating guidelines is the most effective way to manage the workplace environment since it constructs order within the company regulated by the inside ‘law’.
Furthermore, one of the most critical aspects in creating the appropriate work environment is the management actions. The company’s management decides the acceptable behavior within the workplace. The people in the leading positions who observe ethical behavior set an example for the subordinates. This is evident that when one expects their employees to behave in a certain way while the management acts unethically and makes questionable business decisions, which can lead to the company’s failure (Hylton & Vu, 2019). Therefore, to maintain the proper ethical environment, the administration needs to follow the ethics code even more than general employees.
Additionally, resources are inseparable from the working environment since they enable the better functioning of any ethical codes the employers might want to establish. For example, to improve the operating setting, one might implement unique training sessions for the employees or enforce additional training sessions on topics beneficial for the company and the usage of its resources. Furthermore, employers should make similar training techniques mandatory for newcomers to understand the importance of appropriate professional behavior. Moreover, workers have to receive constant management as well as general office support that would aid them in making an ethical choice within the workplace.
Reporting can be equally crucial to developing a company’s ethics codes as setting specific pieces of training to enforce it appropriately. Despite the efforts in initiating an ethical work environment, there would be people who would fail to support the rules. Reporting system would allow the employees to communicate about violations to the management of a business. Employees are obligated to feel that every action has its consequences, and not following the rules set by the company would cause some repercussions towards a person who committed a violation. Reporting system would allow the management to react promptly to any situation that would occur due to a lack of responsibility within an employee. Therefore, each worker would understand that some standards are to be followed.
As an example of the great and not-so-great working environment, one needs to observe two well-known technology companies: Apple and Google. Apple’s working environment can be described as ‘sink or swim’ since the company does not accept failure in any way. Employees have to be fit, the management monitors trash bins, which can put more stress onto the employee, the working hours are incredibly stressful, and work can haunt workers even if they have fallen ill (Berlin & Adams, 2017). Therefore, Apple prioritizes results over people, which is why many employees experience extreme burnout and anxiety (Berlin & Adams, 2017). This is an example of the bad working environment that takes from the employees more than it gives.
On the other hand, Google prioritizes people over results, which is why its working environment has been proven to be one of the best ones. Google allows their employees to relax and presents them with lots of opportunities to do so.
Failure in this company is not punished as harshly as in the case of Apple. Moreover, workers are encouraged to share their voices and creative thoughts. While in Apple, it is not vital to have coworkers as friends, in Google, it would be more beneficial and less stressful to befriend colleagues. Furthermore, the company supports its employees financially, while Apple does not share the same practice (Hylton & Vu, 2019). Apple is a highly secretive company that requires more than an average worker can give, while Google appreciates and celebrates every employee and willingly shares the company’s culture.
More prominent organizations such as Apple and Google also try to include more diversity within their workplace to improve the companies’ work ethics. Although diversity is mostly associated with race, it is also related to gender, culture, religion, physical abilities, educational levels, and other factors. For the past years, the companies mentioned in the essay tried to be more inclusive, and as of 2018, there were 38% of females within Apple, and 32% in Google, which is why the latter is often criticized (Umoh, 2020). Furthermore, Apple hired around 35% of underrepresented minorities, and Google had a similar picture (Apple, 2018). These companies are the leaders within inclusiveness and company-diversity. However, their indicators are far from perfection concerning diversity.
Nevertheless, there are companies where diversity levels are much lower. There are few suggestions to change this situation, such as hiring people of color, females, and other underrepresented groups, or at least giving them a chance. It is expected that workplaces dismiss workers of different races or gender, which is why many people suffer at the stage of looking for a new workplace. A company’s recruitment policies have to embrace diversity and dismiss any biases they have while interviewing a potential candidate. The selection for a new employee has to be free of prejudice and all possible preferences.
Moreover, the company has to abandon the discrimination and implement inclusiveness in the working culture. For example, the policymakers have to create organizational rules that discriminate a grave violation of the company’s policies. The practices have to be diverse, and every worker must understand the importance of such techniques and rules aimed towards ending discrimination. Diversity training could be a great way to fight prejudice and biases some employees or management might have. Insensitive behavior should not be encouraged, but some people have little understanding of their behavior and why it can be considered rude. Providing training aids in achieving performance and respect towards people of a different race, ethnicity, culture, religion, and overall thinking.
Additionally, one of the most significant challenges of diverse group management is in ensuring understanding. For example, some people whose first language is not English can fail to understand the complete picture of the presented task, so management has to develop exciting ideas concerning effective communication methods. All the employees have to understand every procedure, policy, safety rules, or other information, which sometimes would require overcoming language barriers. For this reason, it is essential to have manuals translated into various languages for all employees to understand.
Concerning the question of volunteer programs, it is true that employees should be encouraged to participate. First, volunteering would not only boost the company’s morale but also improve its reputation. Moreover, volunteering aids others, which is beneficial not only to the business but also to the people who need help. An employee volunteer system can significantly improve work culture since an employee with high morale is happier, which also enhances their work ethics and productivity levels. Furthermore, a volunteer system can enhance a particular company’s popularity, which would potentially attract new capable workers.
In conclusion, the importance of a proper ethical environment cannot be underestimated. A good workplace culture promotes the employer, giving the company a good reputation. Violation of the ethical rules is not only causing lawsuits but also damages the company’s reputation. Moreover, it is equally vital for businesses to become more inclusive, which means hiring people of color, different ethnicities and gender based on their professional qualities instead of prejudice and biases. An example of inclusiveness can be considered Google and Apple. Furthermore, although Apple has a worse working environment for its employees, it is more inclusive of gender-vise. However, Apple needs to prioritize people over results since it is common for their employees to suffer from high stress and anxiety levels.
References
Apple. (2018). Inclusion & diversity. Apple. Web.
Berlin, C., & Adams, C. (2017). Psychosocial factors and worker involvement. In Production ergonomics: Designing work systems to support optimal human performance (pp. 107-124). London: Ubiquity Press.
Hylton, N., & Vu, J. (2019). Creating a work environment that supports staff retention. YC Young Children, 74(4), 34-38. Web.
Umoh, R. (2020). Google diversity report shows little progress for women and people of color. Forbes. Web.