What Are Work Ethics?

How do you conduct yourself as a responsible and dedicated employee in your working environment? Do you cheat your colleagues? Blame your peers for mistakes? Procrastinate when it comes to projects? Use inappropriate language during official conversations? Talk rudely to your customers? I certainly hope you don't, because these are unethical practices.

Abiding by work ethics is a matter of conscience. Ethics encompasses honesty, integrity, your sense of responsibility, character and the overall behavioural traits that enable you to do your job well.

Punctuality and Attendance
It's a trait that adds value to your personality and image. Do you arrive at the office on time every day? Do you attend meetings and appointments on schedule? Absenteeism and procrastination are the indicators of your poor ethics and decreasing job performance.

Be punctual and don't take unplanned leave unless absolutely necessary. Keep a reminder or use Google Calendar to stay on schedule. An efficient and ethical employee makes a time schedule. They make a priority list of their tasks and perform them in order of their importance.

Your Character
It is said in the corporate world that a strong character is the real face of work ethics. Most employers expect their employees to display certain traits that help the company to achieve its objectives. The characters include:

- Honesty
- Reliability
- Discipline
- Dependability
- Loyalty
- Trustworthiness

Self-Management
How prudently you handle your personal problems, emotions and how clearly you draw a line between your personal life and professional life says a lot about your work ethics. Bringing your home affairs into office, gossiping, spreading rumours or bullying others are not considered ethical activities.

Team Work
Team work is very important for the success of the business as well as its team members. Employees should have a sense of how they should behave with others. Every staff member should conduct themselves in such a way that others are not hurt, discouraged or de-motivated. Respect your colleagues, learn from them, be assertive, motivate them, and don't behave in an angry or rude manner with anybody. Any conflict or misunderstanding can be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

Appearance
The way you dress conveys your professional image. An unkempt appearance lowers your confidence and gives the impression that you are sloppy in your work. You are likely to leave an excellent impression when professionally dressed.

Productivity
An ethical employee uses every minute of his or her work time only for work. To be productive during the working hours, you should be well aware of the Occupational Health & Safety procedures and follow the directions properly.

So the final question is; How do you get a good work ethic? Well, you learn it from your parents, through encouraging seminars, courses and training programs.

Vlasta Eriksson

Managing Director, Career Coach, Mother, wife and loyal friend, my passion is life and people and hope to inspire others to succeed in life. I established Signature Staff, a Recruitment Agency in Cairns, in 1998.

Signature Staff deliver a premium recruitment consultancy service that combines the personal care and attention of a small firm with the resources of a national network of specialist recruiters and consultants.

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