Professional work ethics can be defined as the living conscience of professional work, where the performance of tasks is not limited to merely fulfilling the minimum responsibilities, but rather depends on a system of right versus wrong and the impact of this action on the individual, the company, and society as a whole.
Thus, professional ethics are understood to be a set of points agreed upon by the members of the profession or the same company, organizing their rights and duties, and regulating interactions among themselves and with related parties.
Professional ethics can also be described as a set of rules and behaviors that regulate the individual's work within the institution, studying the ethical consequences of individual decisions and their effects on surrounding circles, such as a doctor revealing a patient’s secrets, an employee accepting a bribe to facilitate procedures, a journalist using his platform to incite society against someone he has a dispute with, a teacher publishing the grades of struggling students, or an employee leaking a colleague's secrets to the manager or other colleagues.
Many people confuse personal morals with professional ethics and believe they are synonymous. However, this belief is both correct and incorrect. Professional ethics stem from the personal morals an individual possesses, but they do not necessarily share the same meaning. They can be distinguished by the following definitions:
They are a set of principles instilled in a person from childhood, forming their internal moral system, influenced by religion, customs, society, and family. They are not tied to a specific time or situation but persist throughout life and are passed down through generations.
They are a set of principles that organize work and the way it is conducted. They may differ from personal morals but are mandatory for individuals in the workplace. For example: lying is morally wrong, but may be used professionally to serve the client (though it is not preferable), and favoritism in disputes may be personally unfair but professionally acceptable as a benefit to clients.
Every individual has a moral system that guides them in distinguishing right from wrong. Although this system is personal and not utility-based, it brings psychological comfort to the individual. At the professional level, the sources of professional ethics are diverse, the most prominent being:
The law plays an important role in obligating individuals to the moral values prevalent in society. Even those who disregard custom or religion may adhere to the law out of fear of punishment. Most legislations contain provisions that protect moral principles with the power of law.
Companies set internal policies that regulate the relationship between employees and clients, such as: confidentiality, use of authority, data management, and manners of interaction. These regulations are used to determine penalties in case of violations.
Each professional union issues its own code of ethics to regulate member behavior, used as a means to protect the profession and enforce penalties, such as disbarment or banning from practice. These codes vary by profession, such as doctors, lawyers, and journalists.
Despite the differences in professions and environments, there are common principles that govern work ethics and determine whether an individual is committed to them. The most prominent of these principles are:
The worker must be fully clear in their words and actions and should not use ambiguous language or actions with hidden intentions. Information should not be withheld for self-serving purposes.
Professional decisions should be made free from any personal biases, such as gender or racial discrimination.
Personal boundaries should not be violated, nor should there be rude behavior toward clients or colleagues. Respect and professionalism must be maintained.
Laws must be followed when facing disputes, whether through complaints, investigations, or implementing resulting recommendations.
Sometimes, it is difficult to choose between right and wrong professionally. One must think flexibly and seek solutions that satisfy all parties without compromising professional ethics.
All employees must be given equal opportunities for promotions, representation, salaries, and task distribution without discrimination.
All forms of gifts or services that may influence the employee’s decisions or affect their neutrality and independence must be refused.
Information held by institutions about their employees and clients is confidential and must not be used, leaked, or exploited in any illegal or unethical way.