ETHICS AT WORK by Ps Ben KC Lee
Just because it’s rampant, does it mean that it is ok?Just because a business practice is rampant, does it mean that it is right? This is a valid question, especially in a pragmatic society with a bottom-line mentality. Recently Singapore Airlines discovered the answer to this question. It has agreed to pay a US$48M criminal fine in a vast price-fixing scam, as reported by the US Justice Department on Nov. 30, 2010. Twenty airlines and seventeen executives were charged with a total of US$1.7B worth of fines.
Ethics are both standards of conduct and principles that deal with the question of right and wrong. Ethical standards are often more stringent than legal ones. A practice may be legal but unethical. Remember the recent banking collapses and oil spill disasters. Some practices are gray. In other cases, doing nothing can be unethical like not acknowledging our subordinate’s work.
Intellectual property makes total sense in the developed world but many in the majority world cannot afford to comply. A friend joked that copyright means the right to copy. Once a tour guide explained that a monetary gift to an official is a service charge and not a bribe. Corruption is just not the same as a legitimate priority processing fee. How about gifts from suppliers? How about social networking during work hours?
Well, I have found it helpful to approach ethics at work with four C’s.
Categories.
Categories.
Process an ethical issue with inter-related categories. Stassen and Gushee in their 2003 book Kingdom Ethics write that when discussing ethics or a moral issue, people confuse or anger each other because they talk on different levels, about different kinds of moral norms. The authors organise ethics at four inter-related levels: situations, rules, principles and ideals. First, consider individual situations in all their uniqueness, yet apply relevant rules to them, rules grounded in principles and ultimately in the character and will of God. Second, those rules are moral absolutes provided by the Ten Commandments. Idolatry, murder, blasphemy, adultery are always morally wrong. Exceptions to these rules are to be considered as a last, rather than a first resort. Third, principles are similar to virtues and they set the parameters of moral decision, leaving a range of actions to be determined in each specific case. Four, principles are grounded in moral ideals. The character of God and theological narratives constitute ideals.
Rules and principles are grounded in the character of God. Principles get their meaning and have their context in the realistic, embodied, narrative of both Testaments.
For example, rescuers lied to the Nazis when shielding Jews during the holocaust. Their motive was to protect the innocent. There was no personal gain. In fact, they risked their lives. The situation was that they lied. But their conscience followed the moral rule to protect innocent victims. They abided by the principle of justice for the innocent and the ideal that God endows us with life.
To process ethical issues, it is important to get ethics training. Ethics training is helpful to resolve complex issues and empowers you to make ethical decisions. In the workplace, ethics training emphasises creating an ethical organisational culture. It often include a copy of the organisation's code of ethics, a discussion of relevant compliance laws, an ethical decision-making model, resources for help and role-playing scenarios. With ethical tools, ethical issues can be dealt with before they become serious concerns.
Calling.
For example, rescuers lied to the Nazis when shielding Jews during the holocaust. Their motive was to protect the innocent. There was no personal gain. In fact, they risked their lives. The situation was that they lied. But their conscience followed the moral rule to protect innocent victims. They abided by the principle of justice for the innocent and the ideal that God endows us with life.
To process ethical issues, it is important to get ethics training. Ethics training is helpful to resolve complex issues and empowers you to make ethical decisions. In the workplace, ethics training emphasises creating an ethical organisational culture. It often include a copy of the organisation's code of ethics, a discussion of relevant compliance laws, an ethical decision-making model, resources for help and role-playing scenarios. With ethical tools, ethical issues can be dealt with before they become serious concerns.
Calling.
An important practice is to reflect on the mission of our vocation. Reassess what it is that we actually do. Change the attitudes we commonly hold, especially the potentially harmful ones. Maintain an appropriate perspective on what is important in life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book Ethics (published by Touchstone in 1995) writes that vocation corresponds with responsibility. He explains: “In the encounter with Christ, one hears the call of God and in it the calling to life in the fellowship of Christ. From the standpoint of Christ this life is now one’s calling; from one’s own standpoint it is one’s responsibility.” Bonhoeffer illustrates: “If I am a physician, then in the concrete instance I serve not only my patients but also medical science and with it science and knowledge of truth in general. I may perform this at the bedside of a patient but I am continuously aware of my responsibility for the whole, and it is only in this that I fulfill my calling. Furthermore, it may happen that I, as a physician, am obliged to recognise and fulfill my concrete responsibility not just at the bed side but for example, in taking public action against some measure which constitutes a threat to medical science of human life or to science as such.”
Character Shapers.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book Ethics (published by Touchstone in 1995) writes that vocation corresponds with responsibility. He explains: “In the encounter with Christ, one hears the call of God and in it the calling to life in the fellowship of Christ. From the standpoint of Christ this life is now one’s calling; from one’s own standpoint it is one’s responsibility.” Bonhoeffer illustrates: “If I am a physician, then in the concrete instance I serve not only my patients but also medical science and with it science and knowledge of truth in general. I may perform this at the bedside of a patient but I am continuously aware of my responsibility for the whole, and it is only in this that I fulfill my calling. Furthermore, it may happen that I, as a physician, am obliged to recognise and fulfill my concrete responsibility not just at the bed side but for example, in taking public action against some measure which constitutes a threat to medical science of human life or to science as such.”
Character Shapers.
Stassen and Gushee argue that one cannot focus on right and wrong decisions but on what shapes the character of those who make the decisions and actions. The authors elaborate: “First, we need to emphasize that specific practices form character. Second, we need to emphasize the virtues. Third, we need to emphasize that character is formed by the shaping, encouraging and correcting influence of community. Finally, community and character depend on realizing that we are participants in a larger history, a larger drama. All four emphases are crucial in the development of character.”
We need to belong to a church family to live this out. Close relationships keep us honest. The related step is to find mentors.
The connecting link in our code is Christ. Allow Him to live His life of holiness in you. His code defines the virtues of integrity, honesty, compassion setting appropriate behavioural standards. Grasp the underlying meaning and reflect on this regularly. Also, do process difficult decisions and actions with mentors.
Ethical conflicts are not only common but can get overwhelming. Maybe you are mixed up in one. Be encouraged by Zac’s story. He ran a commission-based business. Almost everyone in the industry took more commission than was necessary, including Zac. He was unethical. He becomes transformed when he surrenders to Christ. Zac realises he has been selfish. He makes full restitution. To encounter Jesus is to have true inward change. His story can be found in Lk. 19:1-10.
In summary, focus on shaping your character based on our code of ethics, and approach ethical decisions with a four-layered lens and from a sense of calling. Stassen and Gushee remind us that Christian ethics are not merely ideals, principles, rules but practices that are regularly practiced. Bonhoeffer points out that it is never in thinking of one self but it is always in thinking of the call of Christ. Christ Himself said that God’s kingdom is organised differently from worldly kingdoms (Jn. 18:36).
We need to belong to a church family to live this out. Close relationships keep us honest. The related step is to find mentors.
Mentors are people we respect, people with a moral compass. Our mentors’ life establishes the model for us and others who look to them for guidance. Use this model to create an understanding of what it means to be an ethical professional.
Code of Ethics
Having a code of ethics is important. Christ followers have a natural code of ethics in the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. Both direct us to love God and to love one another, with love as the central theme in Christian values. Collectively they create the essential expectations by God, distinguish between right and wrong and set boundaries so that we are not lured by the deceitfulness of our hearts. The Ten Commandments are an outline of the most important rules and behaviors that God expects from humanity. The Beatitudes are values that contrast Kingdom values with the values of this world. They are our standard for living.
The connecting link in our code is Christ. Allow Him to live His life of holiness in you. His code defines the virtues of integrity, honesty, compassion setting appropriate behavioural standards. Grasp the underlying meaning and reflect on this regularly. Also, do process difficult decisions and actions with mentors.
Ethical conflicts are not only common but can get overwhelming. Maybe you are mixed up in one. Be encouraged by Zac’s story. He ran a commission-based business. Almost everyone in the industry took more commission than was necessary, including Zac. He was unethical. He becomes transformed when he surrenders to Christ. Zac realises he has been selfish. He makes full restitution. To encounter Jesus is to have true inward change. His story can be found in Lk. 19:1-10.
In summary, focus on shaping your character based on our code of ethics, and approach ethical decisions with a four-layered lens and from a sense of calling. Stassen and Gushee remind us that Christian ethics are not merely ideals, principles, rules but practices that are regularly practiced. Bonhoeffer points out that it is never in thinking of one self but it is always in thinking of the call of Christ. Christ Himself said that God’s kingdom is organised differently from worldly kingdoms (Jn. 18:36).
Written by Pastor Ben KC Lee
(First published in Impact magazine 2011 vol. 35 no. 2 (April-May) in Singapore)
(First published in Impact magazine 2011 vol. 35 no. 2 (April-May) in Singapore)
