The Ethics of Human Resource Management
Case 1 – The Ethics of Human Resource Management
Tina Boes
HRM491
04/09/14
Ethics is a topic that has been discussed since days dating back to the great philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle says “the ethical role of the leader is not to enhance his own power but to create the conditions under which the followers can achieve their potential” (O’Toole,n.d., pg.4). One can still apply that statement to current business practices. Since a HR manager is in a position to affect a lot of people, it is a necessity to act ethically in all situations. It is also important for a HR manager to be involved in organization-wide ethics…especially when a situation in any other area in an organization can be easily blended with a direct ethical duty of the HR manager. When dealing with any aspect of an organization, an HR manager must always proceed in an ethical fashion. One key point in acting ethically is always remembering an HR manager “must manage humans not as resources, but as autonomous individuals with legitimate rights and interests” (Mello, 2011, pg.74). Therefore, an HR manager must approach every situation with fairness and equality in mind. Below will discuss certain ethical challenges HR managers face and will also discuss certain ways to remedy the challenges. Three major types of ethical issues, that HR managers face, are discernment, conflict of personal judgment and responsibility, and conflict or appearance of conflict of interest. HR managers face the issue of discernment when they are “determining the right thing to do in very complex situations” while not always having complete information at hand (Mello, 2011, pg.74). HR managers face the issue of personal judgment and responsibility when the HR manager feels that it is being asked of them to approach something in an unethical manner, but having the responsibility of doing what is being asked. Sometimes an HR manager will do what they feel is unethical out of fear of repercussion for not
Tina Boes
HRM491
04/09/14
Ethics is a topic that has been discussed since days dating back to the great philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle says “the ethical role of the leader is not to enhance his own power but to create the conditions under which the followers can achieve their potential” (O’Toole,n.d., pg.4). One can still apply that statement to current business practices. Since a HR manager is in a position to affect a lot of people, it is a necessity to act ethically in all situations. It is also important for a HR manager to be involved in organization-wide ethics…especially when a situation in any other area in an organization can be easily blended with a direct ethical duty of the HR manager. When dealing with any aspect of an organization, an HR manager must always proceed in an ethical fashion. One key point in acting ethically is always remembering an HR manager “must manage humans not as resources, but as autonomous individuals with legitimate rights and interests” (Mello, 2011, pg.74). Therefore, an HR manager must approach every situation with fairness and equality in mind. Below will discuss certain ethical challenges HR managers face and will also discuss certain ways to remedy the challenges. Three major types of ethical issues, that HR managers face, are discernment, conflict of personal judgment and responsibility, and conflict or appearance of conflict of interest. HR managers face the issue of discernment when they are “determining the right thing to do in very complex situations” while not always having complete information at hand (Mello, 2011, pg.74). HR managers face the issue of personal judgment and responsibility when the HR manager feels that it is being asked of them to approach something in an unethical manner, but having the responsibility of doing what is being asked. Sometimes an HR manager will do what they feel is unethical out of fear of repercussion for not
References: Mello, J. A. (2011). Strategic Human Resource Management (3rd ed.). Mason, OH: South- Western Cengage Learning. Ingram, D. (2014). The Importance of Ethics in Human Resources. In Small Business Chronicle. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-ethics-human-resources-12780.html O 'Toole, J. (n.d.). Ethical Challenges in Human Resources. In Santa Clara University. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://www.scu.edu/ethics/practicing/focusareas/business/ethics-human-resources.html Rose, A. (2007). Ethical and Human Resource Management. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/dl/free/0077111028/536508/EHR_C02.pdf