Good People, Bad Choices
A Guide to Ethical Decision Making

How Can Doing the Right Thing Result in the Wrong Outcome?

There are moments in life where our intentions are good, yet the decisions we make lead us down unexpected paths. Whether through pressure, oversight, or simple misjudgment, even well-meaning people can find themselves facing unintended consequences. It’s easy to overlook the small, ethical dilemmas that slowly add up to more impactful outcomes—often in ways we never anticipated. Understanding the choices we make and how they align with our values is crucial to avoiding these pitfalls.

Good People, Bad Choices - A Guide to Ethical Decision Making is a comprehensive program designed to sharpen your ability to recognize, analyze, and act on the ethical dilemmas you encounter. Through engaging discussions, real-life scenarios, and practical strategies, this program equips you with the tools to make better decisions, even in challenging situations. You’ll learn how to anticipate ethical risks, evaluate your choices, and stay aligned with your values, ensuring that even in difficult circumstances, you can make choices that reflect who you are and what you stand for.

How do you safeguard privileged information at work?

Managers and employees have an ethical responsibility to keep confidential information secure, which involves thinking ahead, removing one from compromising situations, and preparing a response in case of direct questioning.

Bad Day at Work

Summary: Employees discuss work-related stress and the possibility of layoffs due to poor company performance. The conversation accidentally leads to the potential breach of confidential information.

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Should employees accept gifts from vendors or potential business partners?

Еmployees should understand and comply with the organization's policy on gift-giving and avoid accepting gifts that could potentially cloud objectivity or create conflicts of interest. Accepting gifts could compromise professional decisions and should be avoided whenever possible.

It’s All Good

Summary: An employee receives an expensive gift from a new vendor. A friend raises concerns about the potential implications of accepting such gifts, emphasizing the need to comply with the organization's gift-giving policy and maintain objectivity in professional decision-making.

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How to handle ethical dilemmas in the workplace?

Ethical decisions reflect on an individual’s character and can significantly impact their career. Handling ethical dilemmas at work with care is essential for maintaining professionalism and integrity.

Mine to Take

Summary: An employee impulsively books a five-day vacation, despite having only two days off. They plan to call in sick at the last minute. The dilemma is whether to cover for them or report the situation, as their behavior reflects on both themselves and their colleague.

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Scenarios Covered

Handling confidential information
Financial integrity and budget management
Insider trading and misuse of information
Conflicts of interest and gift acceptance
Ethical communication and transparency
Pressure to compromise ethical standards
Reporting unethical behavior
Decision-making under pressure
Building a culture of integrity

Key Benefits for Trainees

Enhanced Ethical Awareness: Develop a understanding of ethical principles and how they apply to various business scenarios.
Improved Decision-Making Skills: Learn to evaluate situations from multiple perspectives and make informed, ethical choices.
Increased Accountability: The program emphasizes personal responsibility and the impact of decisions on the organization and its stakeholders.
Better Risk Management: Be equipped to identify potential ethical risks and implement strategies to mitigate them.
Strengthened Organizational Culture: Foster a culture of integrity and trust within the organization.
Enhanced Reputation: Build and maintain a positive reputation for both individuals and the organization.
Legal Compliance: Understand and adhere to relevant laws and regulations, reducing the risk of legal issues and penalties.

Competencies Covered

Ethical Awareness: Recognizing and understanding ethical issues in business.
Critical Thinking: Analyzing situations to identify the best ethical choices.
Decision-Making: Making informed and principled decisions under pressure.
Accountability: Taking responsibility for one's actions and their consequences.
Risk Management: Identifying and mitigating ethical risks.
Effective Communication: Clearly and honestly communicating ethical standards.
Integrity: Maintaining honesty and strong moral principles.
Trust-Building: Fostering trust within the organization through ethical behavior.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What should you do if you see a coworker break company policy, but feel too intimidated to report it?

You should report the behavior through the appropriate channels, such as an anonymous hotline, as the company's policies protect against retaliation.

How to handle a situation where a close friend at work asks you to cover up their unethical actions?

Refuse to cover up any unethical actions and report the incident to your supervisor or the ethics department to uphold integrity and company standards.

What should you do if you discover that your team is benefiting from insider information that could influence business decisions?

Immediately report the situation to your supervisor or the compliance department, as using insider information is illegal and unethical.

If you suspect that a vendor is offering bribes to secure a contract, what steps should you take?

Report your suspicions to your manager or the ethics committee, as accepting or offering bribes violates company policy and legal regulations.

How would you approach a situation where a manager is pressuring you to overlook safety violations to meet a deadline?

Refuse to overlook the violations and report the situation to higher management or the safety compliance department, as safety is a priority over deadlines.

What should you do if you feel that your cultural background is being used against you in workplace decisions?

Report the discriminatory behavior to HR or the ethics office, as the company prohibits any form of discrimination based on cultural background.

How should you respond if a coworker asks you to share confidential company information for their personal gain?

Decline to share any confidential information and report the request to your supervisor, as sharing such information violates company policy and could have legal consequences.

What is your responsibility if you notice that a decision you made may have unintended ethical consequences?

Re-evaluate the decision and consult with your supervisor or the ethics committee to address any potential ethical issues and correct the course of action if necessary.

How should you act if you realize that you’ve unknowingly participated in a conflict of interest?

Disclose the conflict to your manager or ethics officer immediately and remove yourself from the situation to avoid further conflicts.

What should you do if you see a colleague being harassed but they are afraid to report it?

Encourage the colleague to report the harassment and offer support, or report it yourself if necessary, as the company has zero tolerance for harassment and ensures confidentiality for those who come forward.

What if I don't have a training program for workplace ethics in place?

Here are some of the risks that may arise:

Compliance Issues: You may be non-compliant with company policies and legal regulations, leading to potential disciplinary action.
Lack of Awareness: You may miss critical updates on ethical standards, leaving you unprepared to handle ethical dilemmas effectively.
Risk of Misconduct: Without proper training, you may inadvertently engage in or fail to recognize unethical behavior, putting your job at risk.
Career Impact: Non-participation could be viewed negatively by management, potentially hindering your career advancement.
Legal Ramifications: You might expose yourself and the company to legal risks by not adhering to required ethical practices.
Poor Decision-Making: Lack of training can result in poor judgment in situations requiring ethical considerations, damaging your professional reputation.
Team and Company Reputation: Your failure to participate can affect team dynamics and harm the company’s overall reputation for integrity and ethical conduct.