Example
Megan Gerber— Ethical Code Ideologically, I am uncomfortable with utilitarianism and consequence-based ethics as underlying frameworks for evaluating truth. In my view, rational implementation of these perspectives requires perfect information— in reality, an unrealistic and rare condition— and the ability to make trade-offs between different considerations (like life, trust, and liberty). I do not feel equipped to make these decisions. Logically, this would indicate that my entire code should find basis in action-based ethics. Unfortunately, not every part of my life, personality, or reality is entirely logical. While I have used action-based ethics as a guideline for the content herein, I have not yet discerned how to eliminate consequences entirely from ethical considerations. In these sections, my challenge was to reconcile these competing interests in order to create a model that is real for now. As I continue to test these tenets against time and experience, I will continue refining the guidelines and examples below.
Lying
I will strive always to be honest, straightforward, and frank with those around me. I will strive to communicate with others in a way that enables and empowers them to make informed decisions. I will work to detect biases in my own mind-set in order to improve the completeness of truths I relay to others. I will respect the rights of other people to form their own opinions and decisions based on facts they gather from me or from other sources. I will not manipulate these outcomes. I will strive to tell complete truths when situations are immediately relevant to those around me. I will not deliberately withhold relevant information from a person when it is immediately relevant to her. In situations where the circumstances are not time-sensitive, I may wait to reveal additional information until a time when it is immediately pertinent. I will not withhold part of the truth in order to personally profit from another’s ignorance. In no case will I allow the behavior of others to affect my will to tell the truth. If others abuse my honesty, I will decrease my trust in proportion to the violation. I will not lie to anyone based on past breaches of my trust. In adjusting my forthrightness, I will withhold entire truths, not mere parts. This will allow me to use caution when divulging information while still striving to communicate all sides of relevant issues. I will not make promises I do not intend to keep or am not capable of keeping. If conditions change and I am no longer able to keep a promise I have made, I will be proactive in notifying other parties to the promise of what they can truly expect. I will act as expediently as possible in these situations, regardless of the promise’s relative importance to other priorities in my life. Promises by nature are an automatic priority due to their seriousness in maintaining a level of trust. I will maintain confidentiality when I have committed to doing so, except in situations where keeping information secret jeopardizes the life or safety of another person. I will not promise confidentiality in situations where I know the law requires me to divulge information. For example, when working with children, I will not make blind commitments to keep secrets, as I may be legally required to report child abuse. I will strive to notify others of my life-and-safety exceptions to confidentiality prior to their divulging information to me. I will exercise caution when engaging in games of partial truth. I will not lie in debate. I will not utilize games of partial truth to deliberately create doubt or suspicion about real-world truths. (I will avoid making comments or taking action that blurs the lines between the game and reality. For example, in artistic expression, I will not tell lies that may change the way people think about the world or each other.) I will not knowingly profit from the ignorance of others. I will not cheat on exams, other coursework, or their equivalents in my professional life. I will not ask for extensions or exceptions in cases where, knowing the full truth, I would not grant them for myself. I will be complete and honest in explaining situations in which I fail to follow through with assignments or similar commitments. I will not lie about reasons for missing class or turning assignments in late. I will not tell white lies, or lies involving “trivial, diplomatic, or well-intentioned mistruths.” (As defined in Wikipedia.)
I will view these temptations as opportunities to deepen my relationships with others by telling the truth. I will strive to use language that is accurate, precise, and appropriate. I will avoid intentionally misleading through rhetoric, whether or not my statements are technically true. I will strive to remain alert and cognizant in situations where I may be tempted to exaggerate in any form. I will avoid knowingly distorting the magnitude of any truth, mistruth, or event. I will avoid euphemism, cacophemism, hyperbole, and other linguistic magnifiers whenever possible. In situations where I am not capable of discerning the truth, I will strive to present all sides of the story without bias. When statistics can support multiple results, I will be forthright in presenting the multiple conclusions possible.
Harming I will not initiate harm or physical violence toward others. In a dire case of self-defense, I will use no more force than absolutely necessary to escape the situation. I will alert authorities of physical altercations rather than becoming involved myself. I will not drink and drive, park in fire lanes, or operate motor vehicles unless I am completely alert, aware of my surroundings, and well-equipped to drive. Only in the case that a loved one in pain has created a living will indicating interest and intent will I consider assisting in suicide. While these conditions are necessary, they are not wholly sufficient. I will not use physical tools of war or destruction to commit any violent act except in cases where it is absolutely critical for escaping a direct attacker as specified above.
Stealing I will not steal items in cases where effects on other individuals are clear. This includes items from stores, shops, or other physical establishments. I hope that with time this tenet can be reduced to “I will not steal.” I will not take advantage of generosity or autonomy offered by my employer. I will not embezzle. I will not take advantage of trust or ignorance of customers or others, either for my benefit or for that of my employer. I will make attempts when possible to return items for which I was not charged, or for which I was charged incorrectly. I will make at least as much effort to correct errors that benefit me as I would to correct errors that disadvantage me. I will strive in every case to give credit to others where credit is due. I will not plagiarize or exploit the intellectual property of others in my own work. I will allocate at least as much energy in returning a lost item I have found as the item itself is worth. Whenever possible, I will turn lost items over to relevant authorities.
Special Treatment I will strive to treat everyone as I wish to be treated. I will be glad to enhance opportunity for my loved ones through normal means, but will not use my influence or other relationships to advantage them over other applicants. I will abstain from influencing hiring processes in which my friends or loved ones are competing. (In cases where applications are blind, I will withdraw from the decision-making process the moment I have reasonable suspicion of a conflict of interest.) I will be honest and complete in all recommendation letters and interviews, regardless of personal relationships.
Business Ethics I will not allow employer incentives to influence or bend my ethical code, nor will I accept jobs whose requirements violate this code. I will not steal or embezzle from my employer, nor will I steal or embezzle on behalf of my employer. I will not conceal or assist in concealing illegal behavior (mine or others’) in the workplace. I will not create incentives for others to act unethically.
Proximity to Unethical Behavior
I firmly believe that if all of the world’s “good people” worked only for the world’s “good companies,” few faulty, unethical, or atrocious processes would ever be reformed. Therefore, while I will not forbid myself from working for operations whose underlying premises I do not share, I will remain alert when near unethical behavior and will strive to avoid dulling my instinctual sensitivities at all costs. While I may accept a job for a company with the intent to change its practices, I am not willing to violate any tenet of my ethical code in the process. I will strive always to abide by my personal ethical code, regardless of others’ actions. While I may take a job as a financial operative in a cigarette company, I will avoid directly contributing to marketing practices I find to be unethical. I will not accept work when job requirements and expectations violate my ethical code. This includes frontline work with the armed forces and police departments. I will strive to respect ethical sensitivities and trust my instincts when entering proximity to unethical behavior. I will work to avoid situations of ethical sensitivity where I cannot discern a workable means for personally influencing change and improvement. I will work to keep a fresh perspective in companies where questionable practices occur, and will speak out in favor of reform wherever possible and appropriate.
Reproductive Issues I will seek and obtain active consent before engaging in any romantic activities. I will not engage in romantic activities in cases where I am not entirely comfortable dealing with the “worst-case” outcome. I will not provoke the possibility of pregnancy unless absolutely certain that my partner and I are capable and likely to make cooperative, mature, and levelheaded decisions about how to deal with an accidental conception. I will take precautions against sexually transmitted diseases. I will maintain honest, openly communicative relationships with all romantic partners. I will inform all of my relevant partners of issues involving sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, or their general health as proactively and early as possible. I will respect the final decision-making authority of my loved ones in making decisions about their own bodies. While I will express my opinion freely in discussion and debate, I will strive to accept and support their ultimate choices. I will not engage in romantic activities with individuals who are in committed relationships with others. I will ask about commitments before deciding to become involved. If I discover that a commitment does exist, contrary to what I have been told, I will discontinue my involvement immediately. I will utilize great discretion when engaging in romantic activities with the former partners of my friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. I will not engage in these activities with individuals who may still be dating my friends, or for whom my friends still have feelings. I will attempt to be understanding and liberal if my friends end up in relationships with my ex-boyfriends after a reasonable grace period has passed.
Abortion I will not consider abortion past a point when a fetus could survive on its own. I will consult my partner and will respect his input in making an ultimate decision regarding abortion.
Howard, Ronald A., et al. Ethics for the Real World : Creating a Personal Code to Guide Decisions in Work and Life, Harvard Business Review Press, 2008. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/newschool/detail.action?docID=5182085.
Personal Code - Draft
Lying & Honesty
As a beginning standard, I will keep the confidentiality of friends, family, and colleagues as long as there are no long-term negative consequences by keeping their secrets.
Secrets
- I will not lie or deceive, including by presenting true facts in a misleading way.
- The one exception is when a lie is necessary to save someone’s life, whether my own, a loved one’s, or a family member.
- When I promise to keep a secret, I will keep it, unless revealing it would save a life or prevent physical harm.
- Judgement on revealing the secret is contingent only on the best information I am aware of at the time.
Promises
- I will keep the promises I make to others.
- I will treat verbal promises as binding contracts.
- Contract can only be broken if mutually agreed upon by the original person who agreed to the promise.
Cheating
- I will not cheat in academic, business, or personal settings, even if it would benefit me, my employer, my friends, or my family.
- When I know someone is cheating, whether academically, professionally, or in a relationship, I will confront them.
Truth
- When I tell the truth, I will tell the whole truth in plain, value-neutral language.
- When I know someone is telling a falsehood, I will confront them.
Harming, Killing, Preventing Harm
I will harm directly only if I am being harmed and not before, even if I know I will be harmed: in this case, I will do all I can to avoid the situation.
People
- I will not kill, except in defense of myself or a loved one. That includes responding to a credible threat of lethal force before the person has acted.
- I will never initiate harm or physical violence toward others.
- In dire self-defense, I will use only the minimum force necessary to escape.
- I will not use weapons or tools of destruction for violence, except when absolutely critical to escape a direct attacker.
- I will alert the authorities about physical altercations rather than becoming involved myself.
- I will only intervene when helping a loved one, a friend or an innocent bystander has become involved against their will. In that case where the authorities are not available, I will help them (and myself) escape.
- I will drive only when fully alert, aware of my surroundings, and well prepared to do so.
- I will not drive under the influence of alcohol. If I feel even slightly light-headed, I will get a ride or wait until it passes.
- I will not drive when in danger of falling asleep on the road unless there is a credible threat I need to escape, someone is in need of immediate care or there is no place to sleep safely.
Animals
- I will eat meat less often and in smaller portions, and pay more for better-raised meat instead of buying more of the cheaper kind.
- I will prefer local and small-scale producers when possible, so I can learn how the animals live and are slaughtered.
- I will use the whole animal when I can
- I will plan meals and store food properly so I waste as little animal product as possible.
- I will support policies and businesses that improve animal welfare standards.
Assisted Suicide or Death
- I will consider assisting only if a loved one in pain has created a living will stating their wish and intent.
Stealing
- Stealing would occur only in extreme circumstances, where I lack the financial means or the time to follow proper protocol. Items that are taken must be compensated once resources become available and/or the item must be returned to the owner.
Reproductive Issues
Abortion
I condone legal abortions. I do not personally consider abortion to be taking a life. Because the decision is made between my partner and me, I am willing to defer to her if I judge that her opinion is stronger than mine. I will respect my partner’s decision on the matter.
Guardianship
I will not adopt for prudential reasons. I will support others’ adoptions when I judge that they can afford to raise a child long-term and are personally invested in the child’s interests.
Professional Ethics
Organizational Ethics Requirements
I will not work for organizations whose proximity to antithetical ethical codes to my own is within two connections.
Exploitation for Personal Gain
- I will not use company resources, such as time, equipment, funds, or data, for personal purposes.
- I will not accept gifts, favors, or incentives that could influence, or appear to influence, my professional judgment.
- I will not use confidential or insider information to benefit myself, my friends, or my family.
- I will not take advantage of coworkers, clients, or subordinates who depend on me or have less power than I do.
- I will not take credit for the work or ideas of others.
Misrepresenting Work
- I will report my results, progress, and data accurately, including setbacks and errors.
- I will not exaggerate my qualifications, experience, or accomplishments.
- I will not falsify, fabricate, or selectively omit records, data, timesheets, or expense reports.
- I will acknowledge the contributions of others and cite my sources.
- I will promptly correct any mistakes or misleading statements I discover in my own work, even if no one else has noticed.
- I will describe my work to clients, colleagues, and the public in terms that match what was actually done.
Proximity to Unethical Behavior
How I respond to unethical behavior depends on how close or personally invested I am in the situation. I have no direct or indirect ties to the Civil War in Sudan, and the conflict is too far removed from my interests for me to protest. Likewise, I will not intervene, judge, or report when someone takes a minor item, because the value is too small to justify it.