{"id":1496,"date":"2025-05-20T17:04:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1496"},"modified":"2025-07-21T15:26:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:26:20","slug":"ethics-in-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/chapter\/ethics-in-the-workplace\/","title":{"raw":"Ethical Communication in Organizations","rendered":"Ethical Communication in Organizations"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nBy the end of this section, you should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Identify key principles of ethical communication and explain how ethical choices impact trust, credibility, and decision-making in organizational settings.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"638\">Ethical communication is the backbone of a healthy organization. When people communicate honestly, respectfully, and responsibly, trust grows, decisions become more informed, and reputations are protected. In this section, we\u2019ll explore the key principles of ethical communication and their importance in day-to-day workplace interactions. Whether you\u2019re delivering feedback, sharing sensitive information, or making decisions that affect others, your ethical choices can shape how others see you\u2014and your communication's effectiveness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"638\">Ethical Communication<\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"638\"><strong>[pb_glossary id=\"2309\"]Ethical communication[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> is the foundation of trust and respect in personal and professional relationships. It means being truthful, responsible, and considerate of others\u2019 dignity, privacy, and well-being. Ethical communicators strive to be honest, transparent, and fair, even when conveying difficult messages. In organizational settings, ethics in communication become especially important because they directly influence decision-making, leadership credibility, employee satisfaction, and public reputation. As Cheney, May, and Munshi (2011) explain, ethical organizational communication involves aligning messages and actions with values such as transparency, accountability, respect, and inclusivity. When communication is unethical, such as distorting information, omitting essential details, misusing persuasive tactics, or taking credit for others\u2019 work, it can damage relationships, erode trust, and harm an organization\u2019s long-term credibility (Shockley-Zalabak, 2014). These issues are particularly critical during high-stakes public controversies, crises, or staff layoffs.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1430\" data-end=\"1530\">The National Communication Association (NCA, 1999) outlines key principles of ethical communication:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul data-start=\"1531\" data-end=\"1737\">\r\n \t<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1531\" data-end=\"1567\">\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1533\" data-end=\"1567\">Be truthful, accurate, and honest.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1568\" data-end=\"1607\">\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1570\" data-end=\"1607\">Respect others\u2019 privacy and autonomy.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1608\" data-end=\"1669\">\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1610\" data-end=\"1669\">Encourage open dialogue, especially in diverse communities.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1670\" data-end=\"1737\">\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1672\" data-end=\"1737\">Accept responsibility for the consequences of your communication.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1739\" data-end=\"1906\">Whether you\u2019re giving feedback, writing emails, or speaking to a group, a practical guiding question is:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\r\n\r\n\u201cAm I being honest and fair in communicating this?\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1739\" data-end=\"1906\">Even small communication decisions can have significant ethical consequences. Reflecting on these choices helps build more inclusive, respectful, and trustworthy organizations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">The Personality Test<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<h2 class=\"editable\">Ethical Dilemma<\/h2>\r\nYou are applying for the sales associate position. You have just learned that you will be required to complete a personality assessment as part of the application process. You feel that this job requires someone who is very high in extraversion and someone who can handle stress well. You are relatively sociable and can cope with some anxiety, but honestly, you are not very high in either trait. The job pays well and serves as an excellent stepping stone to more advanced positions. How are you going to respond when completing the personality questions? Are you going to try to represent yourself as you truly are? If so, there is a chance that you may not get the job. How about answering the questions to fit the salesperson profile? Isn\u2019t everyone doing this to some extent anyway?\r\n\r\nDiscussion Questions\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>What are the advantages and disadvantages of honestly completing the questions?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What are the advantages and disadvantages of completing the questions in a way you think the company is looking for?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>What would you do in a situation like this?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">References<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"59\" data-end=\"151\">Cheney, G., May, S., &amp; Munshi, D. (2011). <em data-start=\"101\" data-end=\"139\">The handbook of communication ethics<\/em>. Routledge.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"155\" data-end=\"327\">National Communication Association. (1999). <em data-start=\"199\" data-end=\"236\">NCA credo for ethical communication<\/em>. Retrieved from <a class=\"cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"253\" data-end=\"327\">https:\/\/www.natcom.org\/about-nca\/what-we-stand\/credo-ethical-communication<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"331\" data-end=\"466\">Shockley-Zalabak, P. (2014). <em data-start=\"360\" data-end=\"446\">Fundamentals of organizational communication: Knowledge, sensitivity, skills, values<\/em> (9th ed.). Pearson.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p data-start=\"331\" data-end=\"466\"><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Attribution<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nThis chapter is adapted from \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/details\/books\/organizational-behavior\">Organizational Behavior<\/a>\u201d by J. Stewart Black and David S. Bright (on OpenStax). It is licensed under a <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License<\/a>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>By the end of this section, you should be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify key principles of ethical communication and explain how ethical choices impact trust, credibility, and decision-making in organizational settings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"638\">Ethical communication is the backbone of a healthy organization. When people communicate honestly, respectfully, and responsibly, trust grows, decisions become more informed, and reputations are protected. In this section, we\u2019ll explore the key principles of ethical communication and their importance in day-to-day workplace interactions. Whether you\u2019re delivering feedback, sharing sensitive information, or making decisions that affect others, your ethical choices can shape how others see you\u2014and your communication&#8217;s effectiveness.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"638\">Ethical Communication<\/h2>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"332\" data-end=\"638\"><strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_1496_2309\">Ethical communication<\/a><\/strong> is the foundation of trust and respect in personal and professional relationships. It means being truthful, responsible, and considerate of others\u2019 dignity, privacy, and well-being. Ethical communicators strive to be honest, transparent, and fair, even when conveying difficult messages. In organizational settings, ethics in communication become especially important because they directly influence decision-making, leadership credibility, employee satisfaction, and public reputation. As Cheney, May, and Munshi (2011) explain, ethical organizational communication involves aligning messages and actions with values such as transparency, accountability, respect, and inclusivity. When communication is unethical, such as distorting information, omitting essential details, misusing persuasive tactics, or taking credit for others\u2019 work, it can damage relationships, erode trust, and harm an organization\u2019s long-term credibility (Shockley-Zalabak, 2014). These issues are particularly critical during high-stakes public controversies, crises, or staff layoffs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1430\" data-end=\"1530\">The National Communication Association (NCA, 1999) outlines key principles of ethical communication:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1531\" data-end=\"1737\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1531\" data-end=\"1567\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1533\" data-end=\"1567\">Be truthful, accurate, and honest.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1568\" data-end=\"1607\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1570\" data-end=\"1607\">Respect others\u2019 privacy and autonomy.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1608\" data-end=\"1669\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1610\" data-end=\"1669\">Encourage open dialogue, especially in diverse communities.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1670\" data-end=\"1737\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1672\" data-end=\"1737\">Accept responsibility for the consequences of your communication.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1739\" data-end=\"1906\">Whether you\u2019re giving feedback, writing emails, or speaking to a group, a practical guiding question is:<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox shaded\">\n<p>\u201cAm I being honest and fair in communicating this?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1739\" data-end=\"1906\">Even small communication decisions can have significant ethical consequences. Reflecting on these choices helps build more inclusive, respectful, and trustworthy organizations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">The Personality Test<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<h2 class=\"editable\">Ethical Dilemma<\/h2>\n<p>You are applying for the sales associate position. You have just learned that you will be required to complete a personality assessment as part of the application process. You feel that this job requires someone who is very high in extraversion and someone who can handle stress well. You are relatively sociable and can cope with some anxiety, but honestly, you are not very high in either trait. The job pays well and serves as an excellent stepping stone to more advanced positions. How are you going to respond when completing the personality questions? Are you going to try to represent yourself as you truly are? If so, there is a chance that you may not get the job. How about answering the questions to fit the salesperson profile? Isn\u2019t everyone doing this to some extent anyway?<\/p>\n<p>Discussion Questions<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>What are the advantages and disadvantages of honestly completing the questions?<\/li>\n<li>What are the advantages and disadvantages of completing the questions in a way you think the company is looking for?<\/li>\n<li>What would you do in a situation like this?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">References<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"59\" data-end=\"151\">Cheney, G., May, S., &amp; Munshi, D. (2011). <em data-start=\"101\" data-end=\"139\">The handbook of communication ethics<\/em>. Routledge.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"155\" data-end=\"327\">National Communication Association. (1999). <em data-start=\"199\" data-end=\"236\">NCA credo for ethical communication<\/em>. Retrieved from <a class=\"cursor-pointer\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"253\" data-end=\"327\">https:\/\/www.natcom.org\/about-nca\/what-we-stand\/credo-ethical-communication<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"331\" data-end=\"466\">Shockley-Zalabak, P. (2014). <em data-start=\"360\" data-end=\"446\">Fundamentals of organizational communication: Knowledge, sensitivity, skills, values<\/em> (9th ed.). Pearson.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-start=\"331\" data-end=\"466\">\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Attribution<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>This chapter is adapted from \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/openstax.org\/details\/books\/organizational-behavior\">Organizational Behavior<\/a>\u201d by J. Stewart Black and David S. Bright (on OpenStax). It is licensed under a <a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/deed.en\">Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_1496_2309\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_1496_2309\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>is the foundation of trust and respect in personal and professional relationships.<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":169,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1496","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":1534,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/169"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2815,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1496\/revisions\/2815"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/1534"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1496\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1496"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1496"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}