Everyone has different moral values that they live by and use to make choices. These moral values can be derived from a person’s religious or cultural beliefs. Values can also change from person to person, depending on their region.
There is no true definition of ethicality because of the different moral values everyone tries to live by. However, you can define ethicality using your moral values, principles of your cultural or religious beliefs, and the actions of people around you. You can also use modern values to define ethicality because the values derived from religious or cultural beliefs can be harmful; for example, some religious values alienate others.
Here are five values that you should consider when defining ethicality;
1. Honesty
Honesty requires people to tell the truth at all times in all forms of communication. You should always tell the truth when required, and it should be the entire truth; leaving certain pieces of information out does not amount to being honest. If you believe in honesty, you can define ethicality as always having the ability, or principle, to tell the truth.
Honesty also refers to telling the truth to everyone, whether it is good or bad news. Honesty is very important, especially in business, where you must tell your customers or investors any news. For example, if the company is making losses and the investors need to know the status of the business, you need to be honest and tell them the truth.
Honesty is very important when looking to make an ethical investment. Brokers and companies must be honest when potential or current investors ask for any information regarding the company’s dealings. If the company is not honest or any of its officials fails to disclose certain information to the investors, they can opt to leave the company or avoid investing in the company.
2. Responsibility
Another value that you can use to define ethicality is taking responsibility for your actions. When you make a mistake, you must take full responsibility instead of blaming it on someone else. Therefore, you can define ethicality as having the ability to take responsibility for one’s actions.
Taking responsibility for your actions is also a good leadership skill, and it also demonstrates your maturity. For example, if you are given specific responsibilities at your workplace, and something goes wrong while exercising your duties, you will demonstrate ethicality if you accept responsibility. Taking responsibility also allows you to work independently because there will be no need for supervision.
Organizations also need to take responsibility for their actions, especially when they break certain laws. Most organizations usually make broad statements when they break the law and fail to take responsibility. Ethical investments have made companies start to take responsibility for their actions because people are no longer investing in companies that can break the law and fail to take responsibility.
3. Integrity
Integrity is the most important value organizations and governments seek from individuals when looking to fill certain positions. Integrity is a trait that involves someone having strong principles and a strong will to adhere to the principles. If you have strong principles and you are never swayed to break any of them, you can use your integrity to define ethicality.
When employers seek candidates to fill a certain position, integrity is one of the values that they use to determine if the candidates are qualified to do that job. For example, companies have to follow certain rules and regulations, some of which prevent the company from making maximum profits. A manager with integrity will do everything to ensure the company plays by the rules and makes less profit rather than bends the rules to make more money.
Integrity has five attributes that can help you define ethicality, and they include dependability, loyalty, honesty, good judgment, and respect. To be a person with integrity, you must follow the rules, stick by your code of ethics, practice accountability, and always set an excellent example for others.
4. Law-Abiding
Another important value you should consider when defining ethicality is being a law-abiding citizen. As a law-abiding citizen, you can define ethicality as the ability to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. Ethicality also means the ability to comply with the policies and regulations of public or private agencies.
The law-abiding value also applies to organizations; for example, companies must follow the rules and regulations affecting their industry or trade. Companies listed publicly need to abide by the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules. If companies fail to follow the rules set by the SEC when trading, the company, and the officials responsible will have broken the law.
5. Fairness
You can also define ethicality using the value of treating others fairly. Fairness is an important value because it allows you to treat others the way you would treat yourself. Therefore, you can define ethicality as the ability to treat others fairly in all dealing and relationships.
Treating others fairly also means you exercise your powers properly and not exploiting other people’s weaknesses or mistakes. When you have a powerful position, and you have an opportunity to help or serve others, you need to ensure you treat everyone as you would want to be treated. Even companies need to treat people fairly; for example, companies should not favor investors and make their customers suffer.
It is important to note that “fairness” does not mean “Equal,” even though equality is heavily implied in the definition. Fairness means giving everyone equal opportunity to do or access something. For example, it is fair if people are given the same time to buy company shares; once the opportunity is closed, those who did not buy the share cannot claim they were not treated fairly.
The Definition of Ethicality Depends On The Values Considered
Ethicality is a broad concept that can be defined in different ways according to an individual’s or organization’s moral values. Moral values have been evolving for a long time, and people have different values they use during their lifetime. These moral values can change after some time; therefore, ethicality will keep having different definitions depending on the circumstances.