14.6 End of Chapter Activities
14a. Thinking About the Content
What are your key takeaways from this chapter? What is something you have learned or something you would like to add from your experience?
14b. Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
1. First, think of someone who exemplifies everything you aspire to be in terms of their good behaviour in the workplace (loosely defined as anywhere someone does work—not necessarily where it’s compensated with money). List the qualities and actions that make them such a good, well-liked model for behaviour. Second, think of someone who exemplifies everything you aspire to avoid in terms of their misconduct in the workplace. List the qualities and typical misbehaviour that make them so detestable.
2. Research and explain good dining etiquette or how to dress for success in the workplace with clear recommendations for how your audience should conduct themselves.
3. Have you ever experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in a workplace or institution (e.g., at school) according to the definition and examples given in the chapter? What happened and what did you do about it? Would you do anything differently in hindsight?
4. Find an example of advertising that is unethical because it relies on logical fallacies and other deceptive techniques explored in this chapter. Identify the fallacies or techniques and speculate on why the advertiser used them. Outline a more honest—yet still effective—advertisement for the same product or service.
14c. Applying chapter concepts to a situation
Working with Unprofessional Colleagues
Maria recently started her internship at a small architecture firm with only six employees. During her interview, the hiring manager emphasized that the team at the company is like a family, and they are looking for someone who would be a good fit in the company’s culture. This is a selling point for Maria, and she is excited to start her new professional journey and meet her colleagues.
Upon meeting the other employees, Maria agrees that they are a close-knit group. She also thinks that they are amicable and helpful. Maria feels valued and respected, so she hopes to get a permanent job with the company. However, there is one thing that bothers Maria. She has a colleague, Piyush, who always swears in the office. Everyone else laughs when he does it, but his lack of professionalism makes her uncomfortable.
Maria dreads going to work when she is scheduled to work with Piyush. She fears addressing the problem because she does not want to ruin the easygoing work atmosphere. She wonders if it is best to leave the company after her six-month internship is finished instead of staying long-term. She battles with this decision as she likes working at the company, and the benefits are unmatched.
What should Maria do?
14d. Writing Activity
Read this article from LinkedIn on Nine Golden Rules to Professional Ethics in the Workplace. Summarize the rules. What other rules do you think are important based on your professional or academic experience?