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ETHICAL WRITING IN THE WORKPLACE

Ethical writing means doing what’s right and fair and being honest and just with your employer, co-workers, and customers.

Common ethical phrases include public trust, equal opportunity employer, core values, global citizenship, fair play, full disclosure, fair trade, and social responsibility.

Unethical business dealings are represented by phrases such as cover-ups, spin doctors, bid rigging, kickbacks, planned obsolescence, and price gouging.

ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS ON THE JOB

1. Supply honest and up-to-date information about yourself in your résumé and job applications.

2. Respect co-workers, customers, and suppliers in conduct that avoids bullying, discrimination, or any other unfair and unprofessional action.

3. Refuse to use language that makes false claims or tries to deceive readers.

4. Avoid language that excludes others on the basis of gender, race, national original, religion, age, physical ability, or sexual orientation.

5. Maintain accurate and current records at work.

6. Comply with all local, state, and federal regulations to insure a safe, healthy work environment, products, and/or services.

ETHICAL REQUIREMENTS ON THE JOB (CONTINUED)

7. Adhere to your profession’s code or standard of ethics.

8. Follow your company’s policies and procedures.

9. Honor guarantees and warranties and meeting customer needs impartially.

10.Cooperate fairly with your collaborative team.

11.Respect all copyright obligations and privileges.

SOME GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU REACH ETHICAL DECISIONS

1. Follow your conscience and “to thine own self be true.”

2. Be suspicious of convenient (and false) appeals that go against your beliefs.

3. Meet your obligations to your employer, your co-workers, your customers, and the global community.

4. Take responsibility for your actions.

5. Honor confidentiality at work.

SOME GUIDELINES TO HELP YOU REACH ETHICAL DECISIONS (CONTINUED)

6.Document your work completely, carefully, and honestly.

7.Keep others in the loop.

8.Treat company property respectfully.

9.Think green in the workplace.

10.Weigh all sides before you commit to a conclusion.

WRITING ETHICALLY

Your writing as well as your behavior must be ethical.

In your written work, strive to be fair, reliable, and accurate in reporting events, statistics, and trends.

Unethical writing is usually guilty of one or more of the three M’s: misquotation, misrepresentation, and manipulation.

EXAMPLES OF UNETHICAL WRITING

1. Plagiarism

2. Selective misquoting

3. Arbitrary embellishment of numbers

4. Manipulation of information or context

5. Using fictitious benefits to promote a product or service

6. Unfairly characterizing (by exaggerating or minimizing) hiring or firing conditions

7. Manipulating international readers

8. Misrepresenting through distortion or slanted visuals

DON’T F

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