Ethics of their Human Resource Practices

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1. Assess current organizational environments in the developed world in terms of the ethics of their human resource practices.
The ethics of human resource practices if often referred to the ethics of human resource management (HRM). Ideally, the ethics of current organizational environments in the developed world has improved over time. For example, the ethics of human resource management (HRM) covers those ethical issues arising around the employer-employee relationship, such as the rights and duties owed between employer and employee. (1) Indeed, many of the ethical issues are also legislated in law.
• Discrimination issues include discrimination on the bases of age (ageism), gender, race, religion, disabilities, weight and attractiveness. See also: affirmative action, sexual harassment.
• Issues surrounding the representation of employees and the democratisation of the workplace: union busting, strike breaking.
• Issues affecting the privacy of the employee: workplace surveillance, drug testing. See also: privacy.
• Issues affecting the privacy of the employer: whistle-blowing.
• Issues relating to the fairness of the employment contract and the balance of power between employer and employee: slavery[3], indentured servitude, employment law.
• Occupational safety and health. (1)
There are also many other general ethical principles that are written into developed organizational codes of ethics, which direct organizational behavior toward best ethical practice toward employees (as well as profession and society responsibilities).

This is clearly illustrated in the following example of an organizational code of ethics in Human Resource Management, which is representative of most code of ethics in organizations in developed countries. Codes of ethics and principles act as measures for expected ethical behavior and can act as a measure to evaluate proper and ethical conduct in the organization. Notice how each principle sets up an obligation for the organization staff. For example, the core principle says this: "As HR professionals, we are responsible for adding value to the organizations we serve and contributing to the ethical success of those organizations. We accept professional responsibility for our individual decisions and actions. We are also advocates for the profession by engaging in activities that enhance its credibility and value." (2)

In other words, the HR professionals are obligated to add value to the organization and contribute to the ethical success of the organization by engaging in activities that enhance its credibility and value. Please go ...