Ethical Issue in Job Hiring



Abstract

Ethics concern our efforts to select, justify, or evaluate a course of action as right or wrong according to normative standards and relevant context. Being ethical is not as simple as it sounds. Following the law is not good enough, because laws cannot cover all events and some are actually harmful to people. Having good intentions is not good enough because sometimes ethical dilemmas arise that defy easy solutions.

Table of Content

Introduction4

Ethical Issue in Job Hiring: A Discussion4

Conclusion9

References/Bibliography10

Ethical Issue in Job Hiring

Introduction

In everyday work life, issues arise that raise questions because every action has consequences for a variety of stakeholders. One example is a proposed development that could help an impoverished community but might have environmental consequences for society at large. Ethical professionals sense such dilemmas quickly and look for fair resolution. They review a code of ethics and contemplate its underlying principles. They discuss the dilemmas with colleagues and others who can add perspective and balance (Eide and Allen, 2005). Finally, they make a decision and act. Not surprisingly, those who follow such a rigorous exercise get better at it over time. Case studies of problems faced by others can help professionals develop their ethical awareness and processing skills. This paper discusses ethical issue in job hiring in a concise and comprehensive way.

Ethical Issue in Job Hiring: A Discussion

Professional societies have a responsibility to protect the profession by encouraging ethical behavior of practitioners. Adopting a code of ethics is a common approach. Those who violate that code may be sanctioned at some level, from warning to expulsion. Rules of conduct can define the standards to which professionals are held accountable. The goal of the code, the rules, and the sanctioning process is to produce ethical practitioners (Eide and Allen, 2005).

Issues regarding ethics can be sensitive for an administrator to tackle when hiring staff. Although the approach taken by districts in their hiring process varies, there seems to be a common perspective as to what administrators are looking for in the candidate selection process (Kreiger, et al, 2001). However, this perspective is normally guided by guidelines regarding the job search process and hiring to ensure fairness.

There are however, instances in which the idea of fairness is overlooked for one reason or another. The possibility of nepotism, hiring a friend's family member or friend, or favoring a candidate for some other personal bias or agenda does exist in the process. It is difficult enough at times to maintain integrity yet administrators and other personnel do commit such clear violations of process and fairness in the interview process specific to candidate selection. The purpose of this paper is to examine a particular situation regarding a candidate's selection that raises an ethical issue.

A working definition relating to the term ethical would include consideration of ideas related to principled, just, fair, decent, and distinguishing between what is good and evil. Experts have defined ethics as the explicit philosophical reflection on moral beliefs and practices. Ethics is a conscious stepping back and ...