An ethical code is a list of certain principles that specific professionals or even entire professional organisations are guided by when making certain decisions. In this way, certain basic expectations can be established regarding what actions conform to certain societal standards and how to approach a particular problem. Professional code is designed to help various professionals follow certain requirements: integrity, honesty and so on. As a result, it will be possible to create a favourable environment in the team.
This article will delve deeper into professional ethics, providing specific examples and much more useful information on the subject.
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Professional ethics are moral principles that regulate a certain person’s behaviour or a whole group of professionals in a particular field of activity. The business world has rules on how a professional should act towards others and institutions in a certain environment. Professional code is often categorised as a set of rules to be followed by individual practitioners and a whole group working in a particular field of activity.
It means that different professions have rules that members of a particular group must follow, even if colleagues may consider these values to be unique to each.
The professional code ensures that all employees follow certain standards: respectful treatment of others and socially acceptable behaviour. The code establishes which behaviours are acceptable. It also sends a message to each employee that universal compliance is expected. If the professional code is violated, liability is imposed. This set of rules is not only valuable within the organisation itself but is also valuable externally as a statement of values.
Professional ethics refers to personal and corporate standards of behaviour to be followed by professionals in a specific field. From the beginning, the word “professionalism” was used concerning the vows of a religious order. The secular use of the word began in 1675. At that time, it was used in medicine, law and theology. In addition, the word was sometimes used to refer to the military profession.
Any professional code is based on specific laws. Ethical principles may differ from profession to profession; for example, lawyers, doctors and estate agents follow different rules. At the same time, general principles are relevant to each profession. Such principles include:
Company codes of conduct are developed individually for each organisation. At the same time, there are certain key components of a set of rules that all employees must follow: honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty, objectivity, and respect. In addition, other important elements of the code include the following:
The code sets out specific rules that must be followed to ensure integrity, honesty and professionalism. Personal interests are prohibited in this situation, and the requirements are clearly stated.
Ethics is important in many professional fields. However, in some areas, such as banking, law and finance, there are specific laws that all must follow.
If the voluntarily adopted principles are violated, it may impose sanctions on the employee or the company’s dismissal altogether.
Professional ethics operates in a variety of professions. Here are some of the most popular examples:
Doctors are expected to follow a certain code of behaviour, which implies responsibility to patients and other medical staff. For example, a medical code of ethics implies the following:
Lawyers are bound by a professional code of ethics that exists independently of their work. For example, according to the rules of the American Bar Association, the professional is obliged to represent their client competently. In this situation, it is required to have appropriate knowledge of the lawyer and the necessary skills to undertake thorough preparation for reasonable representation.
Various companies have their professional code of ethics to help employees decide acceptable behaviour. It most often includes the following principles:
This ethics refers to the principles of behaviour that members of the journalism profession should observe in their practice. In particular, professionals must remain impartial and preserve human dignity – it is forbidden to misrepresent facts or disseminate untruthful information deliberately.
Engineering ethics is a system of moral principles that apply to engineering practice. It explores and establishes the obligations of engineers to society, clients, and even the profession itself.
As sophisticated modern technologies such as AI, facial recognition, social media, and bioengineering have emerged, society is increasingly questioning what is acceptable, what is moral responsibility, and how to live an ethical life.
This situation implies preserving confidentiality for quite a wide range of information:
Privacy – from entertainment to shopping and dating – is at great risk in the digital world. Ethics implies the privacy of this information.
Modern people have reached a whole new level of awareness through virtual channels. Social media, mobile apps, and online commerce are now quite commonplace in our lives. At the same time, the large digital footprint raises certain ethical concerns regarding the security and confidentiality of information.
User-entered information is used in many ways: customising targeted advertising, developing new products, and improving user experience. At the same time, significant issues related to information leakage, unauthorised access and misuse are emerging.
In the rapid development of digital technologies, there is a certain code of conduct. At the same time, there are many ethical problems in the field of AI and technology:
Ethical behaviour in various professional fields raises quite a few controversial issues. And they are different in each environment. Professional behaviour requires adherence to certain rules. Otherwise, the position one occupies may be jeopardised.
Codes of conduct are important in many areas; in particular, following similar ethical standards is required of health care professionals practice. Ethical professional practice is particularly important for nurses who face moral issues daily. Dilemmas arise when a healthcare professional cares for a patient. At times, these dilemmas may go against ethical values. In addition, physicians are patient advocates and are responsible for finding the best balance while providing care. Physician professional ethics involves following several important principles: do no harm, fairness and benevolence.
Environmental ethical standards are similar to general global standards – these rules imply that people should treat the Earth as if all its resources were strictly limited. People are committed to using and preserving the Earth’s resources in ways that will allow them to be used in the future. In addition, the code of conduct implies that humans are part of the natural environment. Therefore, if the natural ecosystem is disturbed, humans will also suffer.
Professional ethics has recently generated much debate in the field of artificial intelligence. AI has great potential but involves various ethical issues that must be addressed. The main dilemmas include the following:
To ensure that the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, special codes of conduct should be developed and followed.
Ethical principles are often violated, but what to do in this situation? Here are some basic rules on how to deal with moral issues.
Principles designed by all means should be communicated to the target audience. To avoid making a mistake in the future, it is best to make a preemptive warning about what sanctions can be levied. If ethical standards have been violated, it is necessary to document this fact and provide evidence of the wrongdoing, based on which the appropriate sanction will take effect.
Senior management sets a certain tone when addressing other employees by referring to the company’s code, expectations, and values. In addition, leaders must also be sure to put these values into action. The actions of people in leadership positions speak much louder than words. The message is greatly reinforced if the leader follows the same codes of conduct as everyone else.
When the leadership issue is raised, it is not just the CEO or senior management. To effectively communicate professional ethics to all employees, line managers must also be involved in the process – they must be role models for those employees who report to them.
To significantly improve ethical conduct, regular training and education is essential. In this situation, it is possible to take specialised courses either face-to-face or online. In addition, many educational materials available online will provide a more in-depth look at ethical principles.
