essay on work ethics

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How to Develop a Strong Work Ethic

Tutti Taygerly

Hiring managers want to see your motivation, can-do attitude, and dedication.

In our early career years, it can be challenging to figure out what behaviors are and are not acceptable in different professional environments. Employers are now expecting more of entry-level workers and they want to see that you have good work ethic. So what is work ethic?

Work ethic refers to a set of moral principles, values, and attitudes around how to act at work. It often surrounds what behaviors are commonly acceptable and appropriate (or not).
Qualities like reliability, productivity, ownership and team support all demonstrate professional integrity, or a strong commitment to ethical behavior at work. In contrast, low-quality work, tardiness, or lack of attention to details demonstrates bad work ethic.
If you’re new to the workplace, a good way to start is by observing. Pay attention to how your coworkers behave in meetings to gain a better understanding of their “etiquette,” as well as the communication styles of different people and teams. Another essential part of building good work ethic is adopting a “do it like you own it” attitude. You can do this by being proactive in small, but powerful, ways.

Where your work meets your life. See more from Ascend here .

Have you ever wondered about how to behave appropriately at work? Throughout your career, and especially in the early years, it’s challenging to figure out what behaviors and attitudes are and are not acceptable in different professional environments. The more you traverse companies and industries, the clearer your understanding will become. When you’re just starting out, though, it can be hard to pin down these behaviors.

Tutti Taygerly is a leadership and executive coach with 20+ years of design experience across large companies, design agencies and startups.

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The Importance of Workplace Ethics

Workplace ethics — the ethical guidelines that define appropriate workplace behavior — are an important aspect of an organizational culture . Companies that live up to their ethical standards may notice that employees trust each other to do the right thing, which can boost performance and loyalty. Job applicants will want to join the company, and customers will be proud to say they do business with them.

What Are Workplace Ethics?

Workplace ethics are the principles that an organization aims to live up to. By agreeing to treat others with respect and act with integrity, companies can build trust with employees, customers and the general public.

Creating an ethical culture requires a concerted effort by leaders, but the onus is on everyone in the organization to maintain an ethical culture by speaking up against unethical practices. After all, it only takes a small crack in a company’s ethical foundation to compromise everything it has worked so hard to build.

Workplace ethics are the ethical standards that an organization strives to live by. Often defined by a code of ethics or a code of conduct, a company’s workplace ethics usually involve acting with integrity, respecting others and reporting unethical behavior when they see it.

Ethics extend beyond what is required by law. While certain actions like theft or discrimination are clearly illegal, ethics can help define ethical gray areas that might be at odds with the company’s values and jeopardize the company’s reputation.

Workplace ethics are strongly influenced by a company’s leaders , who must not only put ethical standards in place, but also act ethically in the course of their day-to-day work. When employees see that a company’s ethics are taken seriously and modeled by leadership, they are much more likely to hold themselves to those standards.

Unfortunately, a gap often exists between a company’s stated workplace ethics and its actual workplace ethics. A survey by the Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI) found that nearly two-thirds of employees have observed at least one unethical or illegal act in the past year, with only 72 percent of those employees reporting the misconduct. A Gallup study reported more troubling results, with only 40 percent of employees speaking up.

Related Reading What Is Ethical Leadership?

Why Are Ethics in the Workplace Important?

Workplace ethics are important to creating a culture built on trust, which contributes to employee satisfaction, increased collaboration and a stronger brand reputation. Additionally, an organization that acts ethically — and agrees on a shared set of values — is safeguarded from the problems that can result from unethical behavior.

“Leaving things to chance, assuming people will have good intentions, puts a culture at risk of ethical lapse,” Ron Carucci, an author and managing partner at leadership consulting firm Navalant , told Built In.

When leaders don’t act ethically, employees may lose faith in the organization’s ethical integrity and not report wrongdoing. In this way, unethical behavior can beget more unethical behavior and eventually permeate the organization’s culture .

“Those companies ultimately trip up over some kind of rule or law and it threatens the viability of the business,” Pat Harned, CEO at Ethics & Compliance Initiative (ECI) , told Built In.

Benefits of Having Strong Workplace Ethics

1. it’s easier to recruit and retain ethical employees.

Employees who see that their organization’s ethical values are being followed often feel a sense of pride and commitment to the organization. When employees see unethical behavior, however, they won’t respect or trust the organization. Those organizations are also more likely to have employees who are treated unfairly, Harned said.

“Not only are you going to have a problem attracting great talent,” Harned added, “but you won’t be able to retain them because people won’t stay in a workplace that is toxic or has questionable practices.”

2. It Contributes to Trust and Collaboration

Employees have a higher degree of trust in leaders they believe are ethical, which in turn strengthens their ability to lead and influence their workforce, said Ann Skeet, senior director of leadership ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University. Employees typically mirror that behavior, which creates a culture where ethical standards are upheld and toxic behavior is called out. A healthy workplace culture rooted in trust and ethical standards can collaborate and operate more efficiently knowing everyone is aligned on values and pulling in the same direction.

Additionally, employees who feel like they are heard are more likely to speak up and share other ideas that would make the company more efficient, more profitable or create a better experience for customers, said Stephen Paskoff, president and CEO at Employment Learning Innovations .

3. It Attracts Loyal Customers

Customers want to support businesses that are transparent, behave ethically and live by their corporate values . When a company gains a reputation as an ethical company, they often attract new customers and referrals. An ethical company will also treat its customers fairly, which leads customers to trust that company and return to them for their next purchase.

4. It Helps You Avoid Legal Trouble

One of the most practical benefits of workplace ethics is legal compliance. A code of ethics will typically offer guidance about preventing conflicts of interest, bribery and other illegal practices. It also sets clear standards against discrimination, harassment and other behaviors that not only create a hostile workplace but could potentially land your company in legal trouble. By regularly communicating these expectations, companies can ensure that employees are informed about the laws that exist and what they need to adhere to these laws.

Related Reading Toxic Work Culture: 18 Examples and How to Improve It

Examples of Ethical Workplace Behaviors

1. accountability.

Accountability means living up to one’s promises and owning up to any mistakes instead of deflecting responsibility. In an ethical workplace, people will not only hold themselves accountable, but they will also hold others accountable by calling out inappropriate behavior, confronting poor performance or questioning unethical decisions.

2. Transparency

An ethical leader will be transparent in how they make decisions. They might cite company values or data when explaining their thought process, Skeet said, and they will pause to consider a decision’s downstream effects and consult with those affected by the decision.

3. Speaking Up

Reporting unethical behavior is crucial to developing an ethical workplace. If an employee doesn’t feel comfortable confronting a colleague or leader about their unethical behavior, they should report that unethical behavior to a manager, the company’s ethics hotline or one of the other channels outlined in the company’s code of ethics policy.

Examples of Unethical Workplace Behaviors

1. dishonesty or deceit.

Most of us are taught at a young age not to lie, but sometimes the pressures of the working world can push good people toward dishonest or deceitful behavior. A sales representative struggling to meet their monthly quota, for example, might over-promise the benefits of a product to get a customer to sign a sales contract.

2. Misuse of Company Time

Companies may have varying ideas about what is considered an appropriate use of time. For instance, cyberloafing , the habit of browsing websites or social media during work hours, might be considered inappropriate in some occupations, but it might also provide useful information or inspiration in others. That said, there are some clear inappropriate uses of time, like working on a side hustle or freelance business when you have work that needs to be done for your primary employer.

Giving gifts or treating a client to a meal is not illegal for most private sector employees, but it can muddy the ethical waters nonetheless. If you’re in the market for a payroll software, for example, it would be unethical to accept an expensive gift from a prospective vendor because they would then expect you to purchase their software — even if it might not be the best option for your company. Companies can prevent this by defining appropriate gifts and entertainment standards in their code of ethics.

Related Reading Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: What It Is, Why It’s Important

Signs of Ethical Danger to Watch For

Pressure to compromise standards.

Employees can be pressured to cheat or compromise their standards when they are up against unrealistic performance targets or systems that reward cutting corners. ECI’s Global Business Ethics Survey found 29 percent of employees feel this pressure. Of those employees, 84 percent said they also observed misconduct in their workplace.

Fear of Speaking Out

If a company isn’t receiving reports of wrongdoing, leaders might think everything is running smoothly. In actuality, not receiving reports is a red flag. Employees could be witnessing misconduct but not reporting it. They could be afraid of retaliation, which is unfortunately common in some workplaces. About 46 percent of employees surveyed in ECI’s Global Business Ethics Survey said they experienced retribution for reporting misconduct.

Ethics Aren’t Taken Seriously

The more serious the ethical breach is, the less likely it is that the person didn’t realize they were violating the code of ethics, Paskoff said. The real issue is they chose not to follow the ethical standards in the code. This can happen in organizations where cutting corners is necessary to meet goals, creating a gap between an organization’s purported values and its actual operations

“There’s always a slippery slope as the line slowly moves,” Carucci said. “Over time, as cultures fray, as performance pressures become more unrealistic, people decide they have no other choice but to cheat.”

Related Reading Conflict Resolution in the Workplace: 9 Tips

How to Address Unethical Behavior

Take reports seriously.

If an employee steps forward to report unethical behavior, they should have assurances that company leaders will thoroughly investigate the incident. If employees sense that reports aren’t taken seriously, they may grow jaded and feel like the company is hypocritical for not living up to its values. The company’s culture will take a hit, and employees will stop reporting unethical behavior, which will only lead to more ethics violations in the future.

Enforce Policies Fairly

A company’s code of ethics or code of conduct should spell out the process for investigating and disciplining employees who violate company protocols. Companies should ensure that employees are treated equally in this process to avoid any perceptions of favoritism. If employees sense that employees are disciplined more than senior leaders, they may lose trust in the company and stop speaking up about ethical violations.

Take Corrective Measures

Disciplining bad behavior is an important practice, but it will take more than that to create an ethical culture. If the employee is returning to work, they (and possibly their team) should receive training about ethical practices. This could be especially helpful if there is an ethical standard that has been routinely ignored on that team. If the incident exposed a systemic process that led to a breach of ethics, leaders should rethink that practice and design a new workflow that promotes more ethical behavior.

Foster an Ethical Culture

To close the gap between what’s in the code of ethics and what’s practiced in the workplace, companies need to nurture an ethical culture.

“Leaders have a responsibility to pay attention to the culture of the organization, because culture really drives conduct,” Harned said. “If you have a culture that tells employees to get it done and it doesn’t matter how you do it, you’re reinforcing the wrong thing.”

To create that culture, leaders need to not only practice what they preach but also talk about the values and ethics of the organization.

“The C-suite and other leaders have got to talk about these things and integrate them regularly into conversations,” Paskoff said.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are workplace ethics.

Workplace ethics are the ethical standards that an organization agrees to live by, such as treating people with respect, being honest and holding others accountable for unethical behavior.

Why are workplace ethics important?

Workplace ethics are important to creating a culture in which employees trust each other to do the right thing, which leads to a happier work environment, more collaborative relationships, customer loyalty and the ability to recruit and retain ethical employees.

What are some ethical issues in the workplace?

Workplaces could face a number of ethical issues, such as discrimination, harassment, unfair treatment, bribery and deceitful or dishonest behavior.

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Essay on Work Ethics and Professionalism

Students are often asked to write an essay on Work Ethics and Professionalism in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Work Ethics and Professionalism

Introduction.

Work ethics and professionalism are essential in any job. They help maintain a positive environment and ensure success.

Work Ethics

Work ethics refer to the moral principles that guide our actions at work. They include honesty, responsibility, and respect.

Professionalism

Professionalism means conducting oneself with responsibility, integrity, and competence. It’s about doing your job effectively and respectfully.

Good work ethics and professionalism lead to job satisfaction and success. They build trust and respect among colleagues.

In conclusion, work ethics and professionalism are vital for a successful career. They ensure a positive and productive work environment.

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10 Lines on Work Ethics and Professionalism

250 Words Essay on Work Ethics and Professionalism

Introduction to work ethics and professionalism.

Work ethics and professionalism are fundamental principles that govern the conduct of individuals in a professional setting. These principles are quintessential in defining an individual’s character, commitment, and integrity within the workplace.

Understanding Work Ethics

Work ethics encompass a set of values based on hard work and diligence. It involves a belief in the moral benefit and importance of work and its inherent ability to strengthen character. A strong work ethic emanates from an individual’s inner drive and perseverance to achieve success. It includes attributes like reliability, responsibility, quality, discipline, and teamwork.

Professionalism: A Vital Component

Professionalism, on the other hand, is the conduct, behavior, and attitude of an individual in a work or business environment. It involves maintaining a level of etiquette, exhibiting a positive attitude, showing respect to others, and demonstrating a high level of competence and efficiency. Professionalism is about conducting oneself in a manner that enhances one’s image and the image of the organization one represents.

The Intersection of Work Ethics and Professionalism

Work ethics and professionalism are intertwined. A professional with strong work ethics is likely to be more successful because they are dependable, respectful, and competent. They value their work, respect their obligations, and strive for excellence.

In conclusion, the importance of work ethics and professionalism cannot be overstated. They are the bedrock of any successful career and organization. Cultivating these qualities is vital for personal growth and professional advancement.

500 Words Essay on Work Ethics and Professionalism

Work ethics and professionalism are two integral elements that define the caliber and value of an individual in a professional setting. Work ethics refer to a set of moral principles that guide a person’s actions in the workplace, while professionalism is the conduct, behavior, and attitude of someone in a work or business environment.

Work ethics are a set of values centered on the notions of hard work and diligence. It involves a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character. An individual with a robust work ethic exhibits qualities such as integrity, responsibility, quality, and discipline. These values are not inherent; they are cultivated through experiences and societal interactions.

Work ethics play a crucial role in determining the efficiency and quality of work. It influences an individual’s productivity and commitment, which in turn affects the overall performance of the organization. Moreover, it fosters a sense of respect and trust among colleagues, creating a conducive environment for collaboration and teamwork.

The Essence of Professionalism

Professionalism, on the other hand, is the practical application of work ethics. It is reflected in an individual’s conduct, behavior, and attitude in the workplace. Professionalism involves maintaining an appropriate level of etiquette, demonstrating a high degree of competence, and showing respect for others in the workplace.

Professionalism is not just about following a set of rules; it’s about embodying a professional identity. This includes being reliable, respectful, and accountable. It also means being able to handle criticism constructively, communicate effectively, and maintain a positive attitude, even in challenging situations.

The Interplay between Work Ethics and Professionalism

Work ethics and professionalism are intertwined. A strong work ethic fuels professionalism, and a high degree of professionalism reflects a solid work ethic. While work ethics is the moral compass guiding an individual’s actions, professionalism is the manifestation of these ethical considerations in a work setting.

The presence of work ethics and professionalism in an individual can significantly enhance their career growth. Employers value these traits as they contribute to a positive work culture, improved productivity, and a better reputation for the company.

In conclusion, work ethics and professionalism are not just desirable traits but essential for anyone seeking to excel in their professional life. They are the pillars upon which successful careers and organizations are built. By fostering these values, individuals can not only enrich their professional journey but also contribute to creating a healthy and productive work environment. The cultivation of work ethics and professionalism is a continuous process, one that demands conscious effort and commitment. But the rewards, both personal and professional, are well worth the effort.

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Workplace Ethics and the Code of Conduct

Introduction.

Workplace ethics is usually described as the manner in which the employees in an institution manage themselves and their general attitude towards work. The mode of operation of a firm and the inherent perception regarding it by the competitors and society forms part of the workplace code of conduct. The reflection of effective implementation of workplace ethics amongst institutions is exhibited by how they relate with their clients and suppliers, their interactions with other firms, the way they undertake their activities, and their internal and external communication mechanisms. The essay aims at highlighting the desirable employee workplace code of conduct, the benefits and importance of workplace ethics, and the eminent ethical issues in places of work.

Workplace Code of Conduct amongst Employees

A strong employee ethic in workplaces is nurtured through the establishment of habits and systems that facilitate efficient and effective achievement of tasks and interactions among personnel in the place of work. Every staff is required to observe punctuality with respect to timely coming to workstations and completion of projects (“The Value of Strong Workplace Ethics,” 2020). Additionally, both the employer and employee should be individually held accountable and take responsibility for the resultant errors and omissions in any task due to their actions. The workplace culture should also ensure that the staff remains focused, free from all distractors, for the successful and timely accomplishment of tasks.

A truly ethical workplace requires every employee to take the initiative of ensuring that that they have the self-drive to always engage in activities that are productive and beneficial to the firm without being compelled. Indeed, employees should endeavor productivity by avoiding obstacles that hinder them from delivering their best in the assigned tasks. Individual employees ought to exhibit dedication while undertaking their assignments (“The Value of Strong Workplace Ethics,” 2020). Furthermore, the staff should uphold professionalism as part of their work culture, which entails remaining polite to others and decent dressing. Finally, the employee should show their willingness to improve. The character is demonstrated by their positive desire to accept feedback and criticisms, which is also essential in their career advancement.

Benefits of Workplace Ethics

First, employees of an institution enshrined with workplace ethics strive to nurture teamwork amongst themselves for the benefit of the organization. They also work collectively in meeting the predetermined targets hence facilitate enhanced productivity and growth of the firm (Leonard, 2019). Notably, such a company is assured of integrity towards the protection of its asset as the personnel take care of the equipment and machine, thus decreasing costs of maintenance.

Additionally, ethic-anchored work settings enjoy smooth decision making and efficient implementation of strategies, reputable company image, and products in the public domain, and alleviated adverse legal matters. Amazingly, the firm is able to penetrate novel business frontiers, thus scaling the stature of its success and business growth assurance (Leonard, 2019). Finally, an excellent ethical culture promotes a responsive, courteous, and superfluous environment amongst workers with the least plights. The company also becomes easily adaptive to the attributable transformations in the digressive market setting it operates in.

Workplace Ethical Issues

Harassment and discrimination.

It is a prerequisite for all employers to offer equitable employment chances, recruit and train a multi-dimensional workforce. However, some firms fail to enforce these policies and foster workplaces that uphold respect for all sorts of people (Sudsakorn & Rattanawiboonsoom, 2018). Some qualified candidates and employees face harassment and discrimination based on their gender, ethnicity, age, race, and physical abilities. On the verge of averting the high legal and ramifications costs associated with the misconduct, most firms repel the unethical mindset through the provision of alternative perspectives, which are all-inclusive.

Unethical Management

The unprincipled conduct is usually associated with the managers and is exhibited through actions such as manipulation of report figures and inappropriate utilization of company resources and funds. Research has depicted that the abuse of the governance in authority contributes to approximately sixty percent of the misconduct experienced in workplaces (Sudsakorn & Rattanawiboonsoom, 2018). Remarkably, the action can imperceptibly transpire in the form of inapt acceptance of handouts from suppliers, bullying, or the occasional skipping of the stipulated standard processes.

Destructive Workplace Culture

Some organizations face the challenge of unethical leadership, which concentrates on soliciting bribes influencing data and figures on sales or adversely bulldozing employees and corporate partners for financial and personal favors. The culture results in oppression and disrespect of the personnel in the company (Sudsakorn & Rattanawiboonsoom, 2018). The situation aggravates through the repopulation of the institution with like-minded individuals to propagate their interests. The hiring of similar toxic mentality personalities eventually results in discrimination during recruitment, leading to further ethical problems and legal implications.

Inappropriate Use of Institution Tools and Technology

Indecorous usage of the company internet and technology causes the firm to incur extreme costs from staff performance, time loss, and company returns. A recent study showed that about sixty-four percent of employees browse websites not related to work in the course of a workday (Sudsakorn & Rattanawiboonsoom, 2018). The frequently visited sites include the news feed in the social media platforms and result in the abuse of company technology, tools, and time.

The thesis has explored some of the aspects relating to workplace ethics. Indeed, ethics are crucial in the development of a company as it describes the diverse circumstances which influence the functioning of the firm. The more an institution follows its ethics, the more sustainable and successful it becomes. Every organization should avoid unethical practices for the efficient accomplishment of its targets and corporate social responsibility.

Leonard, K. (2019). Workplace values and ethics. Houston Chronicle . Web.

Sudsakorn, C., & Rattanawiboonsoom, V. (2018). Ethical business culture and its impact on unethical behaviors in the workplace: Conceptual implications. PSAKU International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research , 7 (1), 132–140.

The value of strong workplace ethics. (2020). SpriggHR. Web.

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Work ethic in the workplace

Ivan Andreev

Demand Generation & Capture Strategist

ivan.andreev@valamis.com

January 17, 2022 · updated April 3, 2024

15 minute read

In this article, you’ll learn what defines a strong work ethic, and how to develop it within your company.

You’ll also learn what affects the work ethic of various personnel, and how you can help them improve it.

What is work ethic?

Why is work ethic important, what are the benefits of having a strong work ethic in an organization, strong work ethic examples, bad work ethic examples, strong work ethic skills you should develop, bad work ethic skills you should avoid, how to develop a strong work ethic in an organization (tips), faq about work ethic.

Work ethic is a set of standards of behavior and beliefs regarding what is and isn’t acceptable to do at work.

Work ethic can be strong (good) or poor (bad), it depends on personal views of employees, their motivation, and overall company culture.

A strong work ethic is an attitude an employee applies to their work that indicates a high level of passion for any work they do.

A bad work ethic is an attitude that an employee demonstrates that shows a lack of ambition and professionalism in the workplace.

People with a strong work ethic often seem as though they have a competitive spirit, although their competitiveness is often within themselves to achieve their goals within their occupation.

Those individuals with a strong work ethic often present themselves as ‘ideal employees’ because their drive for success leads them to work to achieve one goal after another.

Work ethic can be nurtured, although it’s often a part of an individual’s character and overall outlook on life.

Work ethic may seem like a subjective topic, but for human resources departments, knowing what it is and how it works is important.

A strong work ethic within the company serves as a behavioral model for the right way of working. It supports and fosters a productive working culture.

Employees with a strong work ethic are highly driven and often far exceed their peers in terms of achieving company goals.

They lead by example and motivate others to work hard. Of course, it must be part of the work culture , and everybody should support it.

Otherwise, one employee with a strong work ethic in a collective of people with poor work ethic will eventually exhibit the same attitude or will leave the company.

Bad work ethic, put another way, can lead to demotivation, loss of effectiveness, sometimes even to high turnover rate and other damaging consequences.

So, it is vital for the HR department to track and adjust work ethic within the company, department, or even of the particular employee.

We won’t say that employees with a strong work ethic are better choices for promotion within the company, but they are the first candidates for this, because of their drive and commitment to their job.

Develop and maintain a strategy-driven learning culture

Upgrade your organization’s learning culture with clear, actionable strategies to address the challenges.

Employees are more productive and dedicated. They help each other, and so on. Cover this more.

1. A balanced, respectful workplace and culture

Employees with a strong work ethic present themselves as professionals in every sense of the word.

They respect their fellow employees, their higher-ups, and those that they come into contact with.

Not only does this present a polished image for your organization, it also creates an environment that other people are happy to work in.

2. Higher productivity

Employees with a strong ethic put their commitments to the company before other, frivolous activities.

While there’s no reason to work rather than attend to a family emergency, these employees won’t slack off on a project because they’d rather do something they’re not obligated to instead.

A high drive for work ethic means that they take enough gratification in their job to complete every task, and correctly prioritize their work/life balance.

People with a strong work ethic take pride in their jobs and see every task they do as important.

These are employees that rarely, if ever, arrive at the job late. Not only that, they complete all assigned projects in a timely manner and avoid holding up the workflow of the rest of the organization. This creates efficiency and a sense of expediency in the workplace.

3. A wider talent pool

The employees that show the highest work ethic are also those that continue their dedication as they advance in their careers. Better managers make for better employees underneath them.

When you scout employees with a strong work ethic from the beginning, you can keep your strongest assets within the company.

Work ethic examples

Next, we’ll go into a practical examination of work ethic. We’ll review some common examples of both strong and poor work ethic.

People with a strong work ethic are often referred to as true professionals. Next, we’ll look at some examples of a strong work ethic in the workplace.

First example:

Barney is the employee that always follows through on his commitments. If he agrees to take over another co-worker’s shift, he always shows up. If commits to a deadline, you can count on him to meet that deadline.

Everyone knows him as the guy they can rely on. He gets satisfaction in being the person that never shows up late, and always completes work of the caliber, no matter what the task is.

Second example:

Angela’s supervisor asked her to coordinate reports between patient in-services and insurance. Unfortunately, Angela isn’t very familiar with processing certain insurance claims.

Rather than giving up, Angela decides to expand her skillset. She networks with her co-workers in the insurance department and asks questions of her supervisor to ensure she completes her task to the best of her ability.

In the process, she expands her skills to make sure she meets her goals.

Third example:

Barbara is known for her meticulous work. She never misses a deadline, and still doesn’t sacrifice the quality of her work to do so.

While it may take more focus, and time for certain tasks, she always delivers high-quality, reliable work. Her supervisors know that they don’t need to double-check her work.

No matter what day, what time, or what the circumstances are Barbara never turns in work that would be considered sub-par.

Individuals with bad work ethic aren’t very hard to point out. However, clear examples can help you point out specific factors that are a problem. If these are corrected, the employee’s performance will also improve.

Jim’s supervisor asked him to review the financial reports from last quarter to look for purchases from one client. The supervisor gave him this task about a month ago and asked him to complete it within a few weeks.

Now, a month has passed, and Jim still hasn’t reviewed any of the reports. Rather than starting early, he’s left it to the last minute and turns in an incomplete report.

Jim is a standard example of poor prioritization and a weak work ethic.

Sheila is sometimes bothered by the tasks required of her. However, she never addresses this with her superiors. Instead, she complains to co-workers, friends, and anyone that will listen about her job.

Ultimately it displays a very poor image of the company and creates a more hostile working environment for her co-workers.

Being resentful and complaining, rather than seeking solutions, is another strong indicator of poor work ethic.

Jeff is an employee that isn’t bothered by work schedules. Every weekday he’s supposed to show up at 9 am.

While other employees show up on time or even early, Jeff is rarely, if ever at the office on time. He makes excuses about traffic or other problems but never bothers to get up earlier to correct the issues.

His constant tardiness shows a lack of respect for his job and fellow coworkers. His coworkers know him as unreliable and irresponsible as a result.

Repeated tardiness is another common sign that an employee has a bad work ethic.

Strong and poor work ethic skills and traits

Next, we’ll go into a practical examination of work ethic. We’ll review some common examples of both good and bad work ethic.

Hard workers don’t give up when a task is difficult. These individuals show their work ethic in their persistence.

Dedication means that an employee always sees their commitments through. They keep their deadlines and complete tasks to the fullest.

Workers that show discipline aren’t swayed by what they want to do. Instead, they continue doing what they should until it’s complete.

Productivity

Individuals with a strong work ethic often have high productivity and keep themselves busy completing assignments and meeting their goals.

Team players are individuals that demonstrate work ethic through teamwork. They know their company works when everyone does their part, and they’re always willing to help a co-worker.

Integrity is a strong indicator of a good work ethic. It guides individuals to make choices that are morally sound, and that are ethically balanced.

Responsibility

Individuals with a strong work ethic are known to be responsible. Being consistent and reliable shows professionalism and respect for their work.

Determination

Employees can show a strong work ethic by being determined to meet or exceed goals. Even if they’re not familiar with the task, they will look for resources to help them successfully achieve their goals.

Professionalism

It can be difficult to do the best work on the hardest days; however, individuals with a strong work ethic persevere and create high-quality work nonetheless.

Procrastination

People with poor work ethic aren’t driven to complete tasks. As a result, they wait until the last minute to complete work and often produce work of poor quality.

Negativity affects others in the workplace and is a common trait of people with bad work ethic because they don’t value professionalism.

Toxicity is a high indication of poor work ethic. These individuals aren’t concerned with creating a productive, welcoming work environment and seek to minimize their peers.

Inefficiency

Employees with poor work ethic may demonstrate inefficiency. While they may complete their tasks, they do it in a way that ultimately takes more time, and costs the company more money.

Irresponsibility

When you have an irresponsible employee, you can see a lack of work ethic in how seriously they take their duties in the workplace. Irresponsible employees don’t place high importance on their commitments and responsibilities.

Passiveness

Passiveness can be a general personality characteristic, but it can also apply to attitudes in the workplace. This attitude means that individuals don’t care either way what happens with their job- in other words, they also demonstrate apathy.

Untimeliness

People with a poor work ethic aren’t driven to go to work, nor are they driven to complete projects as part of their job.

Unprofessional behavior

Unprofessional behavior is a strong indicator of a lack of work ethic, as those employees that take pride in their jobs strive to maintain a professional demeanor.

Next, this list will give you the best tips available for developing a strong work ethic within your company.

1. Lead by example

People look to their leaders for the behaviors they should emulate. Supervisors and the HR department are perfect examples of this.

Show employees the value of a strong work ethic by embodying it yourself, and encouraging supervisors in all departments to do the same.

2. Organize team workshops

Employees tend to be more motivated when they work as a team, and learning skills for their job is no different.

Allowing everyone to work together in a team workshop breeds a more positive environment in the office, and often gives individuals an extra reason to try and excel at learning a new skill.

3. Organize feedback sessions (discussions)

Getting feedback helps you know how employees feel about the company.

You can choose to do individual interviews, group discussions, or even anonymous surveys. The most important part is to get honest, unfiltered feedback.

This feedback can tell you if there’s a general lack of work ethic in the company as a whole, in certain departments, or if certain individuals diminish work ethic.

4. Team building activities

People work harder when they feel like part of a team, and they don’t want to let their teammates down.

Use team-building activities to build rapport between employees, and grow their skills for teamwork.

Working as a team player is an important skill for developing an attitude of a strong work ethic.

5. 1-on-1 meetings to improve attitude

Address problems within your company as soon as possible- but keep it professional.

Don’t try to confront an employee in front of their peers, which can cause embarrassment, and lower morale and motivation. Instead, if you find an individual with problematic attitudes or behaviors, pull them aside for individual meetings.

Try to understand any issues they feel are causing the problem, and help coach them into better work behavior.

6. Encourage mentoring

One way to help enhance work ethic is by giving employees time to learn from a more experienced employee with a strong work ethic.

Mentors understand what less experienced employees deal with, and issues that might cause a negative attitude.

Set aside time and select mentors to be available to ‘coach’ other employees, and ultimately enhance their performance.

7. Keep a professional demeanor

Professionalism is a cornerstone of a strong work ethic.

Remember, a strong work ethic shows that you have great pride in the work you do, and a strong drive to continually succeed.

That also means that you see yourself as part of the team, and want to represent yourself, your coworkers, and your place of work to the very best. You never act in a way that creates a hostile or uncomfortable environment for your peers- you’re too busy trying to achieve your next goal.

Likewise, you don’t create conflict, and address everyone else within the company with the same respect you feel you deserve. You keep a clean-cut, professional appearance that shows you care about how you represent yourself and the company.

What does work ethic mean?

Work ethic represents a set of ethical attitudes towards work that regulates employees’ behavior at work.

What is a strong work ethic?

A strong work ethic refers to an outlook that compels people to succeed within their jobs.

How to develop a strong work ethic?

Create an atmosphere of mutual respect and professionalism among employees. Encourage employees to think of themselves as team players.

How to improve work ethic?

Maintain a professional attitude even in difficult circumstances. Remember that you’re part of a team, and that team needs all players to succeed. If possible, find a mentor (such as a more experienced employee at your company) to help guide you.

What are important skills of strong work ethics?

The most important skills for a strong work ethic include:

How to describe your work ethic?

Highlight positive traits about yourself that show your work ethic. Make these traits specific to you and your attitude. Avoid simply listing skills or traits; instead, try to connect them with job experience or examples.

How do you complete your work? Are you: timely, reliable, professional, or driven? Do you: always arrive on time, consistently complete quality work, support your team members?

Use these traits to build your answer, and make sure you can give relevant examples for each.

What is the protestant work ethic?

The Protestant work ethic is a theory applied to many different subjects, including sociology, theology, and other related studies. You may also hear ‘Protestant work ethic’ referred to Puritan or Calvinist work ethic, although the principles are the same.

In essence, this theory says that people are influenced by the values in their Protestant faith, and tend to demonstrate a more frugal lifestyle, discipline, and diligence in their everyday lives.

What is poor work ethics?

Poor work ethic shows when employees demonstrate bad work habits, including a lack of productivity, lack of concern for deadlines, and poor quality of work. In general, poor work ethics are an overall disregard for the job and professionalism.

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Improving Work Place Ethics Essay

Work place ethics is the study of morality and the value that is worth pursuing within an organization (Cornelius 2). Ethics in itself is honorable and dependent on how one perceives the workplace environment and how their perceptions make them build strong moral values.

Within a small organization, which does not have enough staff and the management is not that rigid, ethical behaviors ought to be highly considered. However, this is not the case because what one member of staff considers a means of competitive marketing strategy, another member of staff may perceive such actions as unethical.

Unethical behavior can therefore be defined as morally unacceptable behaviors, which have been prohibited by the laws governing that particular body (Omolewu 3).

Is an employee hotline necessary?

The management’s idea of coming up with an employee hotline was important. This is because being a small manufacturing company, with no proper controlled management systems, employees tend to get carried away and venture into unscrupulous activities.

These activities include defrauding the company off its hard earned money, investing in personal activities using company property, falsification of important company documents, insider trading among other unselfish and unethical acts (Omolewu 5).

The employee hotline will make sure that certain deeds become realized in advance because an honest member of staff will come out clean and protect the interests of the company by exposing the real culprits. An example is when the company personnel responsible for auditing come up with falsified documents.

The person behind such move will have to pressurize particular members of staff in order to conceal the acts but when the mistake is detected, the perpetrators will have to be publicly exposed. In case of avoiding conflicts, the management could provide employees with a direct number that is linked directly to the human resources department.

The company could then in turn record and analyze the information provided by the concerned employee and then put the information into practical use. This would reduce fraudulent cases and regulate employees from becoming unethical.

Is this sort of whistle-blowing ethical? Yes/No, Explain and justify your response?

An employee who detects dishonest activities such as falsification of important company documents and reports the perpetrators to the company executives is highly advisable and recommended because every company requires honest employees.

Whistle blowing out of the sense of good moral responsibility is considered the best and is ethical because one upholds a high level of moral integrity (Bredeson and Goree 123). In so doing, the whistle blower protects the interests of the company and the public in general.

One underlying principle concerned with whistle blowing and the interests of the general public is that it protects the stakeholders who are involved in building the company from illegal and unscrupulous activities.

In case possible collusion between purchasing agents and vendors arises and the end result could cause harm to the people within the company or the surrounding environment, then it becomes paramount for an honest company employee to make such activities known.

However, whistle blowing becomes unethical when an individual tends to expose the company management for their own personal gain and sheer revenge (Bredeson and Goree 123).

What can management do as they establish this hotline to encourage employees to actually use it?

An open door policy plays a crucial role in terms of building employer-employee relationships because it tends to strengthen employee communication and improving the employer- employee commitments within the work place (Cornelius 281).

This means employees are barred from closed door conferences amongst themselves and that they have the freedom to discuss issues related to the company freely with the directors of the company.

Therefore, an organization having efficient open door policy incorporates good employee relation plan and in so doing, the employer-employee relation as well as employee-employee relations does not end up creating animosity or hatred since every individual becomes accountable for their actions.

Fraud becomes controlled and the personnel can be able to identify and resolve workplace issues ethically and in a morally upright manner.

Works Cited

Bredeson, Dean and Keith Goree. Ethics in the Workplace . New York, NY: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

Cornelius, Nelarine. Building Workplace Equality: Ethics, Diversity and Inclusion. New York, NY: Cengage Learning, 2002. Print.

Omolewu, Gabriel. “Strategies for Improving Ethical Behaviors in Organizations”. Forum on Public Policy . (2011): Web.

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IvyPanda. (2023, December 26). Improving Work Place Ethics. https://ivypanda.com/essays/improving-work-place-ethics-essay/

"Improving Work Place Ethics." IvyPanda , 26 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/improving-work-place-ethics-essay/.

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Organizational Ethics: Encouraging Whistle-blowing within Organizations
Value of Employer-Employee Relationships
Whistle Blowing: A Good Opportunity for Businesses
Whistle-blowing and Employee Loyalty
In Defense of Whistle Blowing
Resume Falsification: Legal and Moral Responsibility
Discrimination in the Labor Market
Age discrimination in Employment
Conscientiousness in the Workplace
Equal Employment in the Workplace
Human Resource Management: Workforce Diversity

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Why Workplace Ethics Are Important

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Published: Mar 28, 2019

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How to Write a Personal Ethics Statement—And Why Every Professional Should

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What is a Personal Ethics Statement?

Personal ethics are your guidelines for forming relationships, overcoming challenges, and decision- making. A personal ethics statement is a one-page essay that gives a picture of your core values and what potential supervisors, colleagues, or clients can expect from working with you. It can be useful when you’re applying for school , just starting out in your career, looking for a new job, trying to expand your client base, or advancing your career.

In this article we will discuss personal ethics—which should not be mistaken for professional ethics. Personal ethics relate to the values you hold in personal relationships and daily life, an whereas professional ethics relate to how you conduct yourself in business settings, deals, and professional relationships.

An important part of your personal ethics statement is identifying your personal beliefs and personal values. Some code of ethics examples include integrity, selflessness, honesty, loyalty, equality, fairness, empathy, respect, and self-respect. This article is a complete resource for forming your personal ethics and transforming them into a compelling personal ethics statement.

Professional Impacts of Personal Ethics

There are many occasions your personal ethics will play a role in your behavior in professional settings. No matter your line of work, it’s important that you maintain unshakable personal ethics in your professional relationships and how you interact in the workplace.

Business Ethics

Business ethics are the practices and policies put into place to ensure people and resources are treated ethically in business dealings. While you’re making decisions in business to benefit a company, you must consider the impact of those decisions on others. Developing your personal code of conduct will help support you in upholding your company policies in the workplace, which will help you maintain personal integrity, as well as avoid potential business scandals . Learn about how to be an ethical leader in a business setting.

With a career in information technology, part of your job involves having access to private or confidential information. Your moral compass plays a significant role in keeping this type of information safe, especially since cyber-attacks—which happen every 39 seconds on average—are so prevalent in modern society. Having a career in IT immerses you in the world of cyber security , where ethical behavior and policy adherence are essential.

Healthcare Ethics

In the healthcare field, you’re responsible for human lives, so it’s no wonder that strong professional competence and integrity are important in how you carry yourself at work. There are plenty of complex issues, regulations, and compliance policies that you’ll encounter in a hospital or care facility, which demands that you seek the guidance of your personal ethics.

Teaching Ethics

Strong moral values are a necessary component of being a teacher. When your job is to sculpt young minds, you have must take responsibility for setting a strong example for them. Part of this is keeping students safe, part of this is treating all students equally and without discrimination. Part of this is creating healthy boundaries between your students and your personal life . If you build a personal ethics statement, you have a north star to look towards in this professional setting as you encounter ethical dilemmas. If you’re planning to become a teacher, you should also consider writing a teaching philosophy statement.

How Do I Write a Personal Ethics Statement?

There are five essential steps to writing—and perfecting—your personal ethics statement:

1. Know your audience.

The first step to writing an effective personal ethics statement is knowing and understanding the audience you’re writing for. This one-page piece of writing is supposed to influence the reader, so keeping the motivations and sentiments of your audience in mind while writing is important to completing your goal. Once you know your audience, whether it be an admissions counselor or a potential employer, then you can choose words and reference practices and policies that resonate with them and meet any guidelines in place.

2. Choose your goals.

There are two important types of goals to think about when building your personal ethics statement: your short-term and long-term goals. For example, your short-term goal may be getting into college, while your long-term goal is becoming a software engineer. Once you identify these, then you can phrase your personal ethics in terms of how they relate to your desired career path. To build off the previous example, if you aspire to be a software engineer, you can talk about personal ethics that relate to cyber security or the hard work required to get to your desired goal.

3. Determine your influences.

What influences the decisions you make? This is an essential step in determining your code of ethics because every choice you make is influenced by internal and external factors. One factor that affects everyone is personal traits. Your personality plays a crucial role in the decisions you make and how you carry yourself with others. Another factor is the people in your life who have helped in shaping who you are today. A third example is momentous events. Everyone experiences wonderful, pivotal moments in their life, as well as tragic and traumatic moments. All these factors play a role in your personal ethics, and they should be included in your personal ethics statement.

4. Identify your beliefs and practices.

This step is about writing down examples of how you move through the world and the core beliefs you live by. Compelling stories elicit emotional reactions from your audience and prove that you put your personal ethics into daily practice. Examples are essential to creating a strong personal ethics statement.

5. Name your “why.”

Why did you choose the ethical principles that you did? Confidently answering this question and providing details is essential to the authenticity of the statement. Decide why your personal ethics are important to you, how your life experiences brought you to those ethics, and how you’ll continue to keep them at the center of your decisions going forward. This step is important to making sure your audience walks away with a clear understanding of what ethical standards are important to you and why.

What Should I Include in a Personal Ethics Statement?

Your personal ethics statement should consist of an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

Start your personal ethics statement with a one- to two-paragraph introduction. Use the introduction to talk about the life experiences that helped form your ethical background. Maybe you had a major injury in your childhood that resulted in lifelong ability differences, and this made you an advocate for accessibility. Find a personal story that will engage your reader and provide a foundation for your statement.

In the body of your personal ethics statement—about two or three paragraphs—you should list each of the ethical principles that are central in your life. This is your opportunity to make sure the reader knows your core beliefs. If you have a personal mantra, include it here. In this section, true life examples are your friend.

What Should I not Include in a Personal Ethics Statement?

Since a personal ethics statement is a deeply personal piece of writing, it’s important to be honest and authentic. The last thing you want to do is include fake life experiences just to make a point. This also isn’t an opportunity to profess all your life’s mistakes. You are human and your personal ethics statement should reflect that, but in a positive and inspiring light.

How to Conclude

Every personal ethics statement should have a strong conclusion. Sum it all up in a final paragraph where you explain how your core values make you a great person to have in a professional organization or an excellent candidate for an academic program.

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How to Write an Ethics Paper: Guide & Ethical Essay Examples

Table of contents

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What Is an Ethics Essay?

Purpose of an essay on ethics, things to write an essay about ethics on, ethics paper outline, ethical essay structure, ethics paper introduction, ethics essay introduction example, ethics essay thesis statement, ethical paper thesis example, ethics essay body, body paragraph for ethics paper example, ethics essay conclusion, sample ethics paper conclusion, how to write an ethics paper, 1. pick a topic, 2. conduct in-depth research, 3. develop an ethics essay outline, 4. write an ethics essay, 5. proofread your ethics essay, ethics essay examples, ethics essay writing tips, bottom line on writing an ethics paper.

Imagine living in a world where people only lie, and honesty is becoming a scarce commodity. Indeed, modern society is facing this reality as truth and deception can no longer be separated. Technology has facilitated a quick transmission of voluminous information, whereas it's hard separating facts from opinions.

The moral implications of dishonesty are far-reaching as they undermine trust, integrity, and other foundations of society, damaging personal and professional relationships.

Honesty is an essential component of professional integrity. In many fields, trust and credibility are crucial for professionals to build relationships and success. For example, a doctor who is dishonest about a potential side effect of a medication is not only acting unethically but also putting the health and well-being of their patients at risk. Similarly, a dishonest businessman could achieve short-term benefits but will lose their client’s trust.

In conclusion, the implications of dishonesty and the importance of honesty in our lives cannot be overstated. Honesty builds solid relationships, effective communication, and better decision-making. This essay has explored how dishonesty impacts people and that we should value honesty. We hope this essay will help readers assess their behavior and work towards being more honest in their lives.

Essay on Ethics for Students and Children

500+ words essay on ethics.

Essay on Ethics – Ethics refers to the concepts of right and wrong conduct. Furthermore, ethics is basically a branch of philosophy dealing with the issue of morality. Moreover, ethics consist of the rules of behavior. It certainly defines how a person should behave in specific situations. The origin of ethics is old and it started from the Stone Age . Most noteworthy, over the centuries many religions and philosophers have made contributions to ethics.

Branches of Ethics

First of all, comes the descriptive branch of ethics. Descriptive ethics involve what people actually believe to be right or wrong. On the basis of this, the law decides whether certain human actions are acceptable or not. Most noteworthy, the moral principles of society keep changing from time to time. Therefore, descriptive ethics are also known as comparative ethics. This is because; it compares the ethics of past and present as well as ethics of one society and another.

Normative ethics is another important branch of ethics. Moreover, Normative ethics deals with certain norms or set of considerations. Furthermore, these norms or set of considerations dictate how one should act. Therefore, normative ethics sets out the rightness or wrongness of actions or behaviours. Another name for normative ethics is prescriptive ethics. This is because; it has principles which determine whether an action is right or wrong.

Meta-ethics consists of the origin of the ethical concepts themselves. Meta-ethics is not concerned whether an action is good or evil. Rather, meta-ethics questions what morality itself is. Therefore, meta-ethics questions the very essence of goodness or rightness. Most noteworthy, it is a highly abstract way of analyzing ethics.

Applied ethics involves philosophical examination or certain private and public life issues. Furthermore, this examination of issues takes place from a moral standpoint. Moreover, this branch of ethics is very essential for professionals. Also, these professionals belong to different walks of life and include doctors , teachers , administrators, rulers.

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Applications of Ethics

Bioethicists deal with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, and philosophy. Furthermore, Bioethics refers to the study of controversial ethics brought about by advances in biology and medicine .

Ethics also have a significant application in business. Moreover, business ethics examines ethical principles in relation to a business environment.

Military ethics involve the questions regarding the application of ethos of the soldier. Furthermore, military ethics involves the laws of war. Moreover, it also includes the question of justification of initiating military force.

Public sector ethics deals with a set of principles that guide public officials in their service. Furthermore, the public sector involves the morality of decision making. Most noteworthy, it consists of the question of what best serves the public’s interests.

In conclusion, ethics is certainly one of the most important requirements of humanity. Furthermore, without ethics, the world would have been an evil and chaotic place. Also, the advancement of humanity is not possible without ethics. There must be widespread awareness of ethics among the youth of society.

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Work Ethic Essay Sample

Essay on Work Ethic

Work ethics is believed to be an idea that work, hard work and diligence, has a positive outcome. They also believe that a person should prioritize work and work only in order to live a successful life. Some may disagree on this but there are people who really make their lives revolve around working. Being a workaholic is not bad but on some point, this trait can become a problem because too much work can lead to sickness. It is okay to work as long as you take good care of yourself. A strong work ethic is needed in order to survive a life that is centered in doing your job. The following are the top ten work ethics.

When you enter a job the first impressive move you will take is being always on time and never be absent. Attendance is one of the most important factors when an employer looks for an employee. When a person is late many things are wasted and it is not good for the business. You will never find a boss who wants his or her employee to be always late. This will impress and inspire your co-workers and your boss. Every company believes in the saying that the early bird catches the worm so an early employee will be the most productive. The second one is the character of an employee. The character of a person is important in the workplace because it will determine his or her connection with his colleagues.

It is so important that a person has a good attitude so that he can get along with his co-workers and the job will be done easily. The third one is team work; this is applicable to an individual or a group of people. Team work is definitely needed because some job requires coordination between more people. It will also show how a person will communicate to the other to finish a certain task. The fourth quality is the appearance; sometimes looks really matters. If you will notice, some job posts include pleasing personality as a requirement. People in the business world needs people who are presentable looking in order to persuade the clients and convince them that their company has real business because their employees look presentable enough to be believed. It does not necessarily mean that the person should pass the standard of beautiful; he or she just needs to be presentable.

Next one is an attitude, just like character it shows how a person acts towards the others. Tough times will also test someone’s attitude on how he or she will react in a problem. The sixth quality is productivity; it is something that makes an employer keeps his or her employee. A productive person always gets the job done even before the deadline. The kinds of people who are productive are good for the company because the salary given to them are all worth it. The other qualities include organizational skills, communication, cooperation, and respect . Organizational skills are needed because it will make a person do his or her job in the easiest way possible. Communication is needed in any field of the workplace because this is what makes people understand each other. If an employee does not know how to communicate, he or she will not be able to impart his or her ideas and that may cause the company a big loss. Cooperation is important because when an employee is not cooperating the job will not be done. Last but not the least is a respect for each other. Without respect, the job will not be done successfully. Everybody should respect each other regardless of their race, age, gender, and religion. Respect should be given and not demanded because it is something that is offered to a person without anything in return.

All of the mentioned qualities should be exhibited by a person who wants to work with strong ethics. If a person has all of those qualities, he or she will surely stay in the job he or she loves. The drive of a person to make something successful will make him or her goals come true. The strong work ethics is nothing without hard work and patience in doing the job.

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Career Planning
Finding a Job
Interview Strategies

Interview Question: “Describe Your Work Ethic.”

What the Interviewer Wants to Know
How to Answer the Question
Examples of the Best Answers

Tips for Giving the Best Answer

What Not to Say

Possible Follow-Up Questions

During a job interview, the people you speak with at a company will be trying to get a sense of what kind of worker you are. To gain insight, interviewers may ask you to describe your work ethic. When you respond, it's important to share examples of how you've demonstrated your work ethic on the job.

What the Interviewer Really Wants to Know

With this question, interviewers seek to get a sense of your fit and what you’d be like as an employee—are you a clock-watcher, doing only the bare minimum? Or will you go the extra mile, and always stay until important tasks are complete? Do you work well with others, or focus mainly on completing your own tasks?

Your answer to this common interview question can be very revealing.

How to Answer “Describe Your Work Ethic”

The trick to answering this question is to avoid simply reciting a string of adjectives. Being specific helps employers really get a sense of what kind of worker you are.

Start by sharing a few key characteristics, and think about what traits sum you up. Maybe you’re:

Dependable
Enthusiastic

Then, think through your entire career. What are some examples of times when you’ve demonstrated those traits? These are the stories that you’ll want to share in your response.

Look for examples of instances when you've demonstrated your work ethic.

As always, when you relate an anecdote or tell a story during an interview, it's wise to use the STAR technique . That stands for Situation, Task, Action, Response, and it's a helpful way to organize your answer.

Examples of the Best Answers

Sample answer #1.

I’m an enthusiastic, positive worker, who’s dedicated to completing the tasks but not complaining about the process. Here’s a good example: We had to completely redo our inventory when I worked at ABC Company. This sounds like a silly thing, but I brought in a big bag of candy, and created a scavenger hunt to accompany the task. By the end, everyone was in good spirits.

Why It Works: This answer shows the candidate’s personality—any company seeking an upbeat, positive presence would be delighted by this response.

Sample Answer #2

I know this is a bit of a cliché, but I’m very dedicated to seeing tasks to completion. At my last review, this was something my manager took note of and praised me for.

Why It Works: While it’s nice to give a specific example of your work ethic in action, sharing that a manager noticed and praised it is also quite effective.

Sample Answer #3

I’m dedicated to working with my team to discover and implement the most effective approach. At my last job, we needed to reduce spending in one cost center area. I shared the issue with my team and had everyone brainstorm ideas for a follow-up meeting a week later. As it turned out, one of my team members had a great idea that we used to reduce costs by 10%. After we implemented the strategy, I nominated her for a company-wide prize.

Why It Works: This answer not only shows the candidate's generous and collaborative nature, but is also a good example of how they helped solve a problem and reduce spending (two things all companies seek to do).

Be specific: Provide examples that show how you have demonstrated your work ethic.
Be concise: Share your example succinctly, without rambling on too long.
Showcase qualities valued by the job at hand: Think back to the job description and any research you did about the company. If this company will appreciate collaboration, self-motivation, willingness to work late hours, or any other quality, try to highlight it in your response.

What Not to Say

Don't mention adjectives without support: It’s not helpful to list a bunch of general characteristics that don’t apply to you.
Avoid clichés: Are you a hard worker? Self-motivated? A team player? Hiring managers hear these phrases all the time, so it’s best to avoid them (or only use them if you can back them up with a great story as evidence).
Don't be dishonest: It's always a bad policy during interviews. And most likely, your work ethic will be revealed in how you answer other questions as well as when the hiring manager checks your references.
Describe your work style. Best Answers
Do you take work home with you? Best Answers
Describe the pace at which you work. Best Answers

How to Make the Best Impression

It's important to share examples. They’re a valuable support for your claims.
Keep your answer succinct. Share examples without giving too much background detail.
Focus on the job you're interviewing for when you respond. Highlight what the company is seeking in your response.

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