A lot of the codes of
practice within my working environment are related to taking responsibility for
the well being of those with whom I work. These are things such as health and
safety, safe guarding, protecting again discrimination, confidentiality. A lot
of these things have legal frameworks and legislation that requires us as employees
to be trained in and competent at working at this level. This then means that
we are governed by rules. In order to protect and look after those we are
responsible for we follow a set of rules; this is related to the
Deontologist approach to ethics.
Immanuel Kant who developed
Deontologist theory of ethics believe that to act in a morally responsible way
then we must act from a sense of duty, in a way that has no negative moral
impact. It is rules based and is determined by good will, the motive behind the
actions determines whether it is morally right. A motive to protect others, by
the implementing and following of rules in my working environment follows these
factors.
Of course there is also
another motivation for the companies I work for in implementing these codes of
practice that determine how their employees work. And that is the need to
protect themselves from any bad press or even potentially prosecution. There is
pressure created by external factors such as legislation, however in the field
of care and education I would assume that organisational ethics play a role
here. The benefit of teaching and care are for the participants, and therefore
such organisations have a moral base for their business as the whole aim is for
improvement and enjoyment of those that participate. Both companies I work for
would be deemed ethical organisation and follow the four basic elements that
can be used to define this
1) Providing code of ethics and standards
2) Ethics training
3) Advice on ethical situations
4) Systems for confidential reporting.
Of course there would be
little point in publicising and producing rules for employees to follow if the
employees themselves didn’t have an ethical and moral standpoint of there own.
There are always examples of where this doesn’t work and abuse of power does
take place, but monitoring, legislation and prosecution hopefully keeps this to
a minimum. Documents such as CRB checks go some way to protecting vulnerable
people and ensuring those with an applicable moral code are allowed to work in
such environments.
I would seem to me that
anyone who works in education, care or with young/ vulnerable people must have
a certain character, moral or ethical code that would attract them to this area
of work. The theory of Virtue Ethics
“emphasises the character of the moral agent rather
than the rules or
consequences and what actions taken reveal about ones
character”
(BAPP Reader 5 – professional Ethics)
Not in all cases, but
presumably in a lot the reason for working in education or care would be the
desire to make a difference, to help others and to do something perceived as
worthwhile. These character traits are then directly linked to the line of
employment chosen and the way in which we would then go about our work. I
believe that the reasons that I work in the way I do and in the area I do is
because of virtue ethics, my character and upbringing have lead me to believe
that it is worth while, and inline with my personal goals and beliefs and that
then determines my actions.
The only theory in the
reader that I feel is not particularly represented in my area of employment is
Consequentialism –
“the greatest happiness for the greatest number”
(BAPP Reader 5 – professional Ethics)
With the guidance in my
workplaces of, individualism, respect, personal choice, and equality it would
seem difficult to put this in place if the needs of some are marginalized for
the benefit of the many, in fact this is something that is directly avoided. Of
course there will be times when not everyone is 100% happy with decisions and
that compromises will have to be made, but on large and important issues that
have personal wellbeing at their heart then I think this is something to be
avoided. I think that within creative industries this is something that can be
more avoided as there is a greater opportunity to be flexible in our approach.
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