Ethical Misconduct in Human Resource
Human resource professionals often find themselves balancing the interests of employees and employers while also striving to comply with federal, state and local laws. In some cases, an ethical misconduct definition is clear cut. In others, a human resources manager or director will have to rely on his or her professional experience and ethics to determine a proper course of action. When training human resources employees about ethical misconduct, it is often best to explain with suitable examples of the unethical issues involved in HRM .
Overlooking Legal and Compliance Lapses
Example
The Confidentiality Trap
Example
Collecting and Protecting Employee Information
Example
Issue 1
Overlooking Legal and Compliance Lapses
HR workers may be asked to overlook violations of workplace rules or labor laws. Legal compliance, however, is essential to the long-term interests of a business, even if it means embarrassment or losing a valuable employee in the short term.
Example
Susan, an HR director, is approached by Dave, a sales manager. Dave is hiring for a position on his team, and he asks Susan to screen out any resumes with "foreign-sounding" names. Susan explains that it is illegal and unethical to do this.
Dave becomes angry and leaves. Later that day, Dave's boss, Andy, approaches Susan and explains that Dave will quit his position if Susan refuses to comply. Andy asks Susan to go along with Dave's request, noting that Dave is a "good producer" for the company.
Susan refuses and tells Andy that she plans to escalate this situation. Eventually, both the CEO and the board of directors get involved. Both Andy and Dave are let go by the company.
Issue 2
The Confidentiality Trap
Sometimes, HR professionals become aware of violations while talking with employees. This situation creates an ethical dilemma because the HR worker would like to keep an employee's confidence, but the HR rep also has an obligation to report hazards and wrongdoing.
Some experts advise HR professionals to be cautious about promising confidentiality. Employees should be told that if they report something to HR that violates the law or places other workers in danger, HR must report what the employee has said.
Example
Matt is an HR director for a large restaurant chain. During a site visit, a clearly upset kitchen worker named Cheryl approaches Matt and explains that she needs to tell him something, but is concerned about her job.
Matt tells her that he is ethically and legally obligated to report some issues to corporate management. However, anything said to him in good faith will be taken seriously. He also tells Cheryl that she has protection under whistle-blower laws.
Cheryl explains that health and safety procedures are not followed in the food storage area and her complaints are ignored by restaurant management. Matt thanks Cheryl for her honesty and files a report. He also arranges for Cheryl to be transferred to another restaurant so that she can avoid having to work in a hostile environment.
Issue 3
Collecting and Protecting Employee Information
HR departments handle a lot of sensitive information, including:
§ 1.Identifying information: Names, addresses, phone numbers, birth dates and Social Security numbers;
§ 2. Financial information: Salary history, credit reports, benefits program participation;
§ 3. Health information: Information about disabilities and accommodations, time-off for health problems, insurance information;
§ 4. Work-related information: Aptitude tests, interview records, resumes, disciplinary records, evaluations.
Sloppy handling of this information could expose an employee to identity theft, embarrassment and possible harassment. HR departments need to have strict policies for the storage and handling of employee information. These policies should include:
§ 1. What kind of information can be stored by the company, and for how long;
§ 2. Who is allowed to access employee information and for what reason or reasons;
§ 3. How information is secured against access by unauthorized individuals;
4.How information is destroyed when it is determined that it is no longer relevant.
Example
Greg was recently hired as HR manager for a small business. On his first day at work, he notices right away that HR files are stored in an unlocked file cabinet in an easily accessed area. Electronic records are protected only by a password that everyone in the department knows.
After Greg brings up his concerns, the company's CEO authorizes the purchase of more secure file cabinets and allows Greg to place them in a locked office. Electronic records are then secured through a proprietary service, and permissions for information access are allocated more carefully
Great work brother. Can u provide me with an example where ethical misconduct took place in human resource? I mean this usually happens in many organizations. Just wanted to know your level of understanding about this topic.
ReplyDeleteWell i have already given examples, and i will love to give more
DeleteExecutive Perquisites:
In the name of executive perquisites, sometimes excesses are often committed, the ethical burden of which falls on the HR managers. Sometimes the costs of these perquisites are out of proportion to the value added. For example, the CEO of a loss making company buys a Mercedes for his personal use or wants a swimming pool built at his residence.
What do you mean by confidentially trap??????
ReplyDeleteThe secret-trap is a phenomena which can exist in human relations when one of the parties to an interaction solicits and receives from the other party a commitment to confidentiality or secrecy prior to revealing certain information.
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ReplyDeleteGreat work bro Good content
ReplyDeleteBut one thing I want to know that how much percent are sure that you can protect the employees information without disclosing any of it?????
well very nice question my friend , But the HR department ensures that the employees sensitive information is well protected by doing following things
Delete#1: Develop formal policies and procedures.
Develop a formal data security policy that defines the type of sensitive information the company will protect, and how the company will protect such information.
#2: Comply with recordkeeping laws.
Keep federal, state, and local recordkeeping and privacy laws in mind and only retain information for as long as it is necessary.
#3: Provide training.
Train employees and supervisors on your company's data security policies. In addition, employees who have access to sensitive information should be trained on the company's procedures for how to prevent unauthorized access to confidential information, how to respond to security breaches, and how to properly dispose of employee records.
In the End I want to say that, to help protect sensitive employee information, develop effective data security controls, train employees and supervisors, and use proper record disposal practices.
Appreciate your efforts
ReplyDeleteProvide more information on why dave want Susan to screen out any resumes with "foreign-sounding" names ?
well i appreciate your question too , according to my knowledge Dave wants to fill up the vacancies to the localites or to his relatives who have given him a hansome commission for this , which is very illegal thing.
DeleteI appreciate your work. I like your content very much.
ReplyDeleteWhy Matt want Cheryl to be transferred to another restaurant?
Thanks
ReplyDeleteAs a responsible HR director you will want that your loyal and honest employees should work in a non toxic environment ,and take harsh actions to the employees involved in the unethical practices.
You have written it so well... I really appreciate your work...hope to see ..more from you
ReplyDeleteNice work
ReplyDelete"Can you tell me which is the most unethical company in India and why ?"
ReplyDelete