Written By: Yasmine Gazzarine
Edited & Published By: Mariham Magdy
Nowadays, HR managers struggle with work place ethics. At this critical time where every detail is shared on social media, we, as employees, are not prudent enough to choose what to share and what not to share.
On the other hand, HR is confused what could be the criteria to judge upon or what should be taken seriously and what should not be taken into consideration regarding the employees social media posts.
Let me take you through my personal experience; I’m a consultant and trainer, in addition to my full time job, out of my bigger aim to influence the new generation. One day I found my personal photo among my trainees printed by the work printer. In a way or another, I knew who printed it.
The surprise was that it’s my dear beloved boss who did so, I confronted him in front of the section head and he just snapped shooting “I’m your boss and I’m free to do whatever I see appropriate, you’re my subordinate and I got unlimited authority to investigate you”.
For a moment I saw myself wearing prison outfit in dark dungeon dragging these feet cuffs and this big metal ball. Is working in an organization means being deprived from your free days? To cut it short I took my action to condemn this act as freedom trespassing which is illegal and unethical.
That drives us to the concept of work place ethics, does that means policies and procedures within the organization?!, or is it a personal factor depending on the culture, behavior and heredity ?! Going through some search we can easily find that the work place ethics definition is “the ability to maintain proper moral value within the workplace”. It is an attitude that shapes the way an individual performs his/her job duties with high moral standards.
This leads us to a more important question “Do you want to be a boss or a leader?” supportive or frustrating? In my point of view, every boss should or better be a leader. If you recognize that one of your staff has a potential or a sparkling skill, please win this employee, benefit from him, make him or her your ambassador.
As he/she demonstrates his/ her skill inside or outside the work environment he/she makes the organization image very good. As he/she delivers the level of professionalism within your organization outside…imagine what would this add to you later on?
Moreover, the competition between work-mates should be healthy and for the best of the organization. There is nothing wrong if your subordinate excels you in some skills or in some domains. Work environment is all about integration.
May be if we put clear fine-tuned policies and procedures this can enhance or guide the existence of preferable work ethics and their application.
In the Egyptian work environments there are always written policies in the background but what really rule the situation are norms. Egyptians are emotional people who are prone to consider anything you post on social media a direct projection on somebody or a certain situation.
But as HR, shall we take what’s posted on social media seriously?! or am I supposed to monitor every post of every employee?! In my humble opinion if a post contains bulling sentence against a colleague or the organization I shall take it seriously only in this case.
Anyway to avoid such problems, simply set rules, communicate it and apply it over all the organization. Be aware not to encourage ever an employee who spread rumors or snitches even if it’s for your own benefit cause Karma always gives you back what you give.