Whose responsibility is work? The worker, or the supervisor who gives the instruction to the worker? Whose responsibility therefore, is work ethic?
Ethical work definition is a pre-requisite to work ethics, though in some situations you find the work ethical even without ethical work being demanded. Lets take a closer look at what work ethics are, and what ethical work is
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Work ethics is honesty in working, ensuring integrity of outcome, labor, and time. Often the only thing associated with work ethics is whether the worker puts in the contracted amount of time to her/his station at work. But I think it goes much further than that. I believe work ethics is about ensuring that I do not leave any stone unturned in meeting the intent of my assignment for meeting the requirements of the outcome. This means to me the selection of the right methods, tools, technique, and then to execute my assignment responsibly in ensuring that my work integrates with the work of others in the team. It means sincerity and diligence on the worker’s part in understanding the big picture and how they can contribute the most to the team through their individual assignment, and even other contributions they can make. It means the exhibition of requisite skills by the worker to ensure the most integral outcome in the least time and effort as a whole.
Lets look at the ethical work definition and its outcomes now. Ethical work definition means the definition of work and work breakdown structures such that they align with the competence and capacity of the team, and which when completed meets the intent of the customer, who can be an internal customer too. Ethical work is the result of work definition by managers typically, while work ethic is the individual endeavor of each team member.
W.O.R.K. = When Outcomes Result from Knowledge! This means a great deal. First, work that does not have any result or outcome is a waste of time. Second, work is based on knowledge, the knowledge of the doer. If it is not based on the knowledge of the doer, it is actually someone else’s knowledge, while the job is just being executed be the worker.
What do these thoughts mean to you as a worker? What do these thoughts tell you as a supervisor or manager?
Which do you now think is more important – work ethics or ethical work? Or are they both equally important for an ethically operating enterprise?
This sets the stage for what today’s students are struggling with. Students who are eagerly gathering degrees, diplomas, and certificates to present to employers who have no clue of what the work involves, except knowing that the kinds of people who have succeeded in growing their enterprise in the past had far fewer qualifications (and much more ethics). Work ethics for ethical work!
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