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Sometimes we are faced with decisions at work where personal and organizational priorities are in conflict. The decisions you make in these circumstances can have a profound impact on your professional integrity, as well as the wider reputation of your team and employer. If you are faced with a difficult ethical dilemma at work, the questions posed in this checklist can help to direct your decision-making more clearly.
How to use this checklist
- Read each of the questions below, together with the corresponding advice and suggestions.
- Think about how each question applies to the situation you are facing. Is it relevant? Use the space provided to record your thoughts and the actions you will take to help you work towards making a decision.
1. Is there Any Question of Illegality?
If you have concerns about malpractice or activities taking place within your organization which are dangerous and/or illegal, it may be appropriate to take advice from your HR department or consult your organization’s whistleblowing policy (if there is one). If you are faced with this kind of decision it is important that you seek support from the appropriate channels. You can find more information on the Directgov, CIPD and ACAS websites.
Your notes:
2. Is the Issue a Clear Case of Right and Wrong?
When thinking about your decision, is the ‘right thing to do’ immediately obvious? If it is, consider what your reasons would be for not following the ‘right’ course of action, and whether there is any justification for not following this approach.
Your notes:
3. Do I Have All the Information Needed to Make an Informed Choice?
One of the most important principles of ethical decision-making is to ensure that all the facts are established at an early stage, so that the person making the decision is fully informed. It is important to base your decision on clear, evidence-based information, rather than hearsay or second-hand information.
Your notes:
4. Have I Consulted Everyone Who Should Have a Say in This?
If the decision you are faced with is likely to have a significant impact on others, then it is good practice to consult them before the decision is made (this will depend on the type of decision you need to make, and may not be appropriate in some cases, e.g. where you need to restructure the team or make redundancies). Consulting people is a good way to achieve their buy-in and acceptance, so remember to give your team a voice and include them in discussions if you can.
Your notes:
5. Is It My Responsibility to Make This Decision?
Although it is important not to pass the buck when it comes to making a difficult decision, take a moment to consider whether you are actually the right person to decide what to do. It can be helpful to have a conversation with your immediate line manager, or perhaps a trusted friend or mentor to get an outside perspective on things. Sometimes you may feel like it is not your responsibility or ‘place’ to get involved, but remember that a lack of action can mean that the problem grows much bigger than it is now.
Your notes:
6. What Are the Negative Consequences of My Decision Likely to Be?
It is very important to take into account whether the decision you choose will have any negative consequences, such as adversely damaging the reputation of your employer or breaching the trust and confidence of the individuals involved. Making good ethical decisions sometimes involves negative consequences, so it is important to consider what these might be, and to plan to address them accordingly.
Your notes:
7. Can I Be Proud of Making This Decision?
If you know you will find it difficult to be proud of the decision you plan to take, it may be that your decision is not as ethically sound as it could be.
Your notes:
8. Am I Respecting the Rights of Others in Making This Decision?
When you are weighing up the different options available to you, it is important to consider whether your proposed course of action respects the rights of the people involved. Ethical integrity dictates that decisions should ‘feel fair’ and equitable to those involved.
Your notes:
9. How would I feel If Other People (e.g. My Colleagues, Friends and Family) Knew About My Decision?
Think about how your peers, friends and family would feel if they knew about the decision you had taken. Would they think you had made the right decision, or would they perhaps be surprised or even shocked by your approach? If you can, take some time to talk your proposed decision over with a trusted friend or family member – do they agree that it is the right course of action in the circumstances? If not, what would they do differently?
Your notes:
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