Ethics A Lesson - COMM344

Ethics and libel are the topics that were assigned this week for following from a professional blog. How ironic that this is week to write on these important subjects, especially ethics.

Ethics is defined by World Net /Princeton as a system of principles governing morality and acceptable conduct. Another website defines ethics as the principles and values which guide public and private behavior. For my blog this week I will discuss the latter definition.

I have often wondered how associates in a competitive environment would act towards fellow employees when they are stressed or desperate. If given the opportunity to take advantage of a situation that would present themselves in a positive manner, would they be ethical?

Unfortunately, this week I had my question answered.

Over the years I have been fortunate to have been successful in sales. I make a point to respect colleagues, treat customers as if I were them, fulfill my promises and follow up with clients to make sure that the process for them was a positive experience.

Although my newest position is not defined as a sales position it does deal with people who donate / gift so I adhere to the same ethical practices and follow company policies and procedures.

As most company’s, we have a computer system that all the data is entered. Last week I was so excited to enter in a gift into the tracking that would benefit the civil engineering program. Several days later I was reviewing my weekly progress and noticed that the record had been altered.

I was stunned! A co-worker had removed my name and inserted her own and therefore taken the credit.


Do you know the 5 stages of recovery?
Anger, Denial, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.

After I recovered from the initial shock, I realized that I was in the first stage of recovery. Denial, how could this person do this to me? What was the motive?

It didn’t take me long to enter stage 2, Anger. I spent several long minutes venting on the phone with my husband and then our conversation turned to how we can make this

situation better - welcome to stage 3.

When I began to speak again I felt drained and hurt but not quite depressed - I was clearly well into stage 4. More conversation flowed between me and my husband and finally I had

to resign myself to the fact that this had actually happened.

Many may wonder what I was in recovery from – after all this happens all the time in business. Call me naïve but I like to believe in the best of people.

For me my loss was that of my innocence in believing that this person had ethics and the loss of respect for a colleague. Truly tragic…