Research Design for Public communication, Part 1 of project
Instructor: XXXXXXXXXX
Author: XXXXXXXXXXX
Ethics within Public Administration, what role does the employees play?
When I began my illustrious career with the State of New Jersey in 2005, I was required to read and sign their “Code of Conduct” agreement. My signature indicated I agreed to the guidelines established by the state for its employees and will comply with them.
I was not immediately proficient in the rules and regulation on the Sate of New Jersey, but had some ideas of what I should or should not do, based on the early established concepts of right from wrong.
There were some things, however that I was not aware of included but not limited to acceptance of gifts, monetary or otherwise, part time employment for either myself or some family members, and misuse, of State own property, such as the telephone, and internet services. As insignificant as some of these topics were to me initially they actually had an ethical meaning that was greater than I originally understood.
Ethics to me is straight forward, “do the right thing”, that being said how do we identify the right thing? Is the right thong always evident? Does doing the right thing always feel good? Does doing the right thing always look good? Why do some ethical decisions carry such a heavy weight of accountability?
Ethical decision making usually begins in early childhood, when parents and care givers help children identify right from wrong. We are taught early values that carry us into adult hood. These early principles and values help form our ethical view towards ourselves, and the world in general.
Many of us were taught in an informal way, which mostly consists of the mimicking of our family and friends. Imitations is not only the greatest form of flattery, it is also an unspoken way of acknowledging the understood actions of another.
Although the informal teachings of ethics, and moral values were introduces as that of an afterthought, the formal teachings were rigid and structured in a way that made you understand what will be accepted, and what will not. These formal structures include religion, culture, academia, and environment.
By the time we are offered employment our views regarding ethics may have swayed either slightly or significantly from our early teaching, by signing of the employers’ code of ethics document, we indicate we have agreed to behave in an ethical manner that will not breach the guidelines established by your employer. It is also a legally binding document that can be referenced if any violations are severe enough to result in disciplinary or legal
