5b
This was a difficult task as at first I didn’t know where to
look. At first I tried to look up different dance companies but realised that
of course I wouldn’t be able to find actual contracts between employer and employee
as these are confidential to the two parties.
Instead I read over my previous contracts and looked at
other websites of companies that I’m a part of. I looked at many online
communities including Facebook and Linkedin a site that many of us have just
joined. I read over their terms and policies and realised that ethics are at
the heart of how the companies are run and that many of the rules are there for
ethical reasons.
For example on Facebook you are not allowed to post
information that is discriminative or offensive to other users.
I really wasn’t very surprised at some of the rules. They
did however make me think about the boundaries. The rules are there but they
can be pushed and it made me wonder where exactly the line is.
I reported a video on Facebook as it showed violent
behaviour towards a member of the public. From the upload date and the comments
it had been there a while yet no one had done anything about it.
If I hadn’t reported the video would it still be on the
site? Has Facebook become so large that the owners don’t know what information
is being uploaded? If so how can they get away with their terms of service if
they aren’t keeping up their half of the deal?
I found this particular video offensive but would others?
Maybe my ethical opinion is different from the person who
had uploaded the video, who maybe did not think the video was inappropriate?
This also made me think about other companies especially
larger companies. Many large companies boast high ethical standards, but how is
the CEO of a major company supposed to know if one of his members of staff for
example a supervisor is being unethical to other workers?
My point is that because many ethical rules are unwritten or
the boundaries are un-clear can unethical behaviour be excused for a misunderstanding?
I was surprised that I had not thought about Privacy and
confidentiality.
Every company has a strict privacy policy whereby they will
not share any of your details with other companies/ third parties unless you
say so.
This also applies on social networking sites as well as
within the work place.
You are also under
contract not to share details of others or the company and in a contract that
you sign when you start a new job. You agree that your job within the company shall be terminated if you
do this.
The contracts that I viewed were also very strict on rules
regarding health and safety in the work place. Responsibilities on contracts
are listed and you agree on your contract that if you do not adhere to these
rules and responsibilities that the company has the right to terminate your
contract.
In conclusion it appears that Privacy, health and safety are
quite clear cut, but more personal ethical rules are difficult to define and
this is where I think it seems problems can occur.
Does anybody agree/ disagree?
Emily, it's good to find someone who agrees with me on all these points. I have waited for so long! I really agree with you. I saw a protest yesterday in Holborn (Central London) in which students were protesting against EMA Cuts and Fee Rises. If they can protest against that then we can certainly protest against social networking sites and more of what you have mentioned above.
ReplyDeleteI think that we should be allowed a voice. Since when were people allowed to shut us up?
I'd pick you for Prime Minister with @Sarah Pearson any day!
Lily
X
Emily,
ReplyDeleteInteresting post, and I agree in many ways about the 'grey area' or ethics which is what we are currently studying. It seems, as you say that ethics can be very personal, and what you might see as 'unethical' others deem perfectly acceptable. So how dow we know what is right or wrong? Who makes the ethical decisions? The same can be said for religious wars,for example- who is right, when both sides believe they are fighting a war for their God and the opposition is 'evil'?
I'm currently looking into my personal ethics at work, and also translating my copy of the employee/er contract. There is little written about ethics, I fear that these rules are also unwritten in Switzerland!
Good idea to look at the ethics of FB and other networking sites, something so widely used should have high security, to avoid risks of lawsuits.
Ethics example question- is it unethical to buy goods from Primark?
ReplyDeleteThis is a tricky question.
DeleteNot long ago a programme was aired showing the treatment of Primark workers in factories. Young children were working there hand sewing tiny beads and sequins onto clothes and being paid next to nothing.
Unfortunately in England the children who made the clothes are so far away its easy to forget the poor conditions and how badly treated they are. People just walk into the shop, see the clothes and buy them.
What difference does it make whether we buy the clothes or not, they're in the shop already?
Unemployment is also at a high in England and there are deprived families over here who may not be able to afford to shop elsewhere.
Is it more a case of Primark being unethical by treating it's workers overseas in the poor ways that they do and selling the clothes for that price, or is it the public's responsibility now we know whats going on?
What do you think?
What about other shop manufacturers? Maybe other high street names are treating their workers unethically too but the public doesn't know about it. Do you think the public could make a difference? Do we care enough?
In Germany there are a few company too, which produces their products under bad working conditions in other countries. Child labour, unhealthy working conditions, underpayment are just a few keywords. Even popular people make advertising for these companies. I think it isn't up to the costumers to change these circumstances, because they don't have always the information or aren't interesting about who and how their products where produced. In my point of view it should be up to the Goverment to prepare appropriate laws. A control system and high fines would maybe reduce such bad working conditions and therefore the offer of such produced products. What do you think?
DeleteVery good point Emily. Determining whether you believe something is 'unethical' or not when regarding the rules and conditions in contracts, is very much open to interpretation. I think in terms of Facebook and other social networking sites, if a user does report a video or deem something on the site 'unethical' or inappropriate; the owner has an 'ethical' obligation to respect the views and 'ethics' of the individual and remove it. But as you said, in large companies and organisations is it impossible to keep tabs on all ethical queries? I think even in my working environments, whether it be primary schools, private dance schools, pantomime and theatre companies - there is no way the owner or person in charge can be constantly approached to sort out every tiny issue that may have some ethical implication - they would be doing it 24/7. Therefore I think in our work it is our duty as a professional to consider whether our actions are ethically correct or not. If we are questioned about our actions, as long as we have a clear explanation and reason as to why (in our professional opinion) they adhere to the ethics and rules of our contract I feel that is the best we can do. In regards to more important issues than have much larger ethical implications the CEO, head or organisation, owner ,etc... should obviously be consulted. Then again ..... deciding on whether an issue is of great ethical importance or not depends on the indivdiuals personal ethics!!!!! Ohhhhhh it's a viscious circle!!!
ReplyDeleteThank's for your input everyone. I didn't realise how much of an input ethics had in our everyday lives or how overlooked they often are! It really is such a grey area!
ReplyDeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteAs the saying goes 'rules are made to broken'. Unfortunately this is the case within any 'Code of Conduct'. People will bend the rules to make them fit to their own ethical standard.
I think Lizzie made an interesting point, as a Professional we have to make decisions based on our Personal and Professional Ethics. If this decision is questionned, it is imperative that we are able to explain and justify the reason for the decision. Highlight the ethical standards behind the decision!
Ethics is such a grey area, even when it is written down in black and white. I guess knowing your rights is extremely important, and as long as you are abiding by the correct 'Code of Conduct' this is as much as you can do!
Tricky, very tricky :)