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?
