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    1. Airports

    Ethics: Why it's important

    Aug. 8, 2005
    Ethics. It’s not something that most of think about every day, but it does affect us and our choices.

    Ethics. It’s not something that most of think about every day, but it does affect us and our choices. Ethics in the business world and in our personal lives means making better choices by considering the rights and well-being of others that may be affected by our decisions.

    Recent events involving WorldCom and Enron make a difference in how businesses and people are perceived. In some cases it can lead to changes in legislation regarding business practices. And while some businesses make headlines for negative business practices, others do have positive cultures that support “doing the right thing.”

    So how does this apply to our lives and work? In Life Principles: Feeling Good By Doing Good, author Bruce Weinstein (www.theethicsguy) describes the five principles of ethics: Do no harm, make things better, respect others, be fair, and be loving.

    Ethical issues aren’t always life and death decisions.

    They include privacy, confidentiality, honesty, and fairness. The actions we should take encompass taking responsibility, meeting obligations, telling the truth, keeping promises, and avoiding harming people.

    Fear, guilt, and our own self-interests can prevent us from doing the ethical thing. Fear can mean we’re afraid of jeopardizing a relationship or believe that harm will come to us. Guilt can be caused by psychological or spiritual conflicts. And our self-interests can blind us to the negative ramifications our actions can cause.

    In What Should I Do? (Berkley Publishing, 2000) by Bruce Weinstein, he outlines the steps that one should take when making a decision. Gather facts. Identify values at stake.

    Find the options open to you. Evaluate options and choose the best one. “Our actions determine what kind of person we are, and our character is revealed by what we choose to do,” Weinstein claims.

    By making ethics a priority instead of getting caught up in the details of our hectic lives, we can lead a richer, more fulfilled life, one that will allow us to get the things we want: the right partner, a job we love, and a place to call home.

    What’s Your Ethics IQ?

    This quiz is from Life Principles: Feeling Good by Doing Good by Bruce Weinstein, Ph.D (Emmis Books, 2005). Circle the option you would choose in each scenario, then add up the point values assigned to each of your choices. The analysis is located here.

    What would you do?

    1. After leaving a grocery store, you notice a six-pack of soda sitting in an otherwise empty shopping cart in the parking lot. Would you:
    A. Leave the soda where it is.
    B. Take it and keep it.
    C. Bring it back to the store.

    2. A friend recently set you up on a blind date, which didn’t go well. Your friend, who is extremely sensitive to criticism, asks you how it went. Would you:
    A. Lie and say it went well.
    B. Tell the truth.
    C. Thank your friend for the setup but be vague in your answer (“Well, we’ll have to see; you never know about these things . . .”).

    3. You are at a party and one of your friends has become intoxicated. As she prepares to leave the party and drive home, you tell her that she has had too much to drink and that you will take her home. She rudely tells you to mind your own business. Would you:
    A. Do as she says.
    B. Take her keys away from her and arrange for a way for her to get home.
    C. Call the police when she gets on the road and tell them that an inebriated person is on the loose.

    4. One of your co-workers is having some difficulties at home and the quality of his work is suffering. Would you:
    A. Say nothing and cover for him.
    B. Talk to him and offer some suggestions about how he can resolve his personal dilemma.
    C. Talk to the supervisor about the situation.

    5. Your friend asks you if you like the new dress she has just purchased. You think it looks horrible but don’t want to hurt her feelings. Would you:
    A. Tell her the truth.
    B. Find something about the dress that you do like and mention only that.
    C. Use language that is accurate but deceptive (It’s incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it!”).

    6. Your boss wants you to overlook a problem so the aircraft can meet its flight schedule. Would you:
    A. Do what he asks if it’s not serious.
    B. Uphold the responsibility placed in you by the Federal Aviation Administration.
    C. See if your boss will put his name on the line.

    7. You and your beloved are having dinner at a fancy restaurant to celebrate your anniversary. When the check arrives, you notice that the waiter forgot to include the expensive bottle of wine you had. Would you:
    A. Pay the bill without notifying the waiter of the omission but leave a larger tip than you had planned.
    B. Pay the bill as is and leave a normal tip.
    C. Tell the waiter about the error.

    8. One evening while watching TV you discover that you are now receiving a premium cable channel that you have not ordered. After doing some research, you learn that the cable company has made a mistake; it is unwittingly providing the service without charging you for it. Would you:
    A. Do nothing but enjoy the free service.
    B. Contact the cable company and notify it of the error.
    C. Wait a few weeks to see if you really watch the channel that often; if not, call the cable company and have it removed.

    9. While you are driving on the highway, a driver passes you and cuts you off as you’re preparing to change lanes. You are startled and scared by his actions. Your children are in the back seat. Would you:
    A. Roll down your window and yell at the driver.
    B. Call the police on your cell phone while you’re driving to notify them of the incident.
    C. Stay calm and do what is necessary to protect yourself and your kids.

    10. A celebrity, once one of your favorites, was recently convicted of a serious offense and sentenced to prison. How do you feel about this?
    A. Glad that the person got what s/he deserved.
    B. Sad that someone you used to admire gave in to less-than-noble impulses. C. Numb.

    To determine what your score means, click here.