Just what are ethics exactly? What is the difference between personal ethics, and professional ethics? Better yet why are they so important in a workplace environment? This is what will be discussed throughout this paper. If questioned, most people would say that ethics is the ability to know right from wrong, good from bad and moral from immoral. Unfortunately, although right the definition of ethics varies greatly depending on whom you question regarding the matter. There are many different shades in-between black and white, just as there are many opinions of right and wrong.
Personal ethics are a set of values, based on religious or moral teaching. It is a standard of conduct by which an individual guides his or her actions and judges others. People use ethics to help make everyday decisions; referred to as ones ethical motivation which is the reasoning behind ones intentions. Ethics are morals and beliefs that are learned and formed from childhood throughout adulthood, and will continue to change throughout our life times. Humans beings, often adjust their values and morals to fit each situation, bending rules to obtain the outcome they desire. People often compromise and adapt the rules to fit more immediate needs not realizing that it jeopardizes their integrity.
Professional ethics are the principles and standards that define one's responsibilities and conduct in a particular field of expertise. Professional ethics often vary, depending on person, profession, or institution. It is likely wherever one works or attends school that establishment will have there own definition of ethics and moral decision making. One may choose to adopt these ethics as th ...