14

Ethics and Employee

Rights and Discipline

Module 14-1

Learning Objectives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Explain what is meant by ethical behavior

at work.
Discuss important factors that shape
ethical behavior at work.
Describe at least four specific ways in
which HR management can influence
ethical behavior at work.
Employ fair disciplinary practices.
List at least four important factors in
managing dismissals effectively.
Module 14-2

Explain what is meant by

ethical behavior at work.

Module 14-3

Ethics and Fair Treatment

at Work

What is ethics?
Ethics and the law
Ethics, justice, and fair treatment
Ethics, public policy, and employee rights
o Unalienable rights
o Public policy
o Employment rights
Module 14-4

Review
Ethics
The law
Justice, and fair
treatment
Public policy, and
employee rights

Module 14-5

Discuss important factors

that shape ethical behavior
at work.

Module 14-6

What Shapes Ethical

Behavior at Work?

No one smoking gun

The person (bad apples)
Situations (bad cases)
Outside forces (bad barrels)
o Pressures
o Ethics policies and codes
o Organizational culture
Module 14-7

Review
Smoking guns
and apples

Module 14-8

Describe at least four

specific ways in which HR
management can influence
ethical behavior at work.

Module 14-9

Using HR Management Methods to

Promote Ethics and Fair Treatment

Selection
Ethics training
Performance appraisal
Reward and disciplinary systems
Managing ethics compliance
Module 14-10

Review

Selection
Training
Performance
Rewards
Compliance

Selection

Training

Rewards

Module 14-11

Employ fair disciplinary

practices.

Module 14-12

Managing Employee
Discipline and Privacy
Fairness in
disciplining
Bullying and
victimization
What causes unfair
behavior?
Module 14-13

Managing Employee
Discipline And Privacy
Basics of a fair and just disciplinary
process
o Rules and regulations
o Progressive penalties
o Formal disciplinary appeals processes

Module 14-14

Discipline without
Punishment
1.
2.
3.
4.

Oral reminder
Formal written reminder
Decision-making leave
Purge suspension from file

Module 14-15

Managing Employee
Discipline and Privacy
Employee
privacy
Employee
monitoring
o Restrictions

Module 14-16

Review

Fairness
Bullying
Unfair behavior
Rules and
regulations
Penalties

Appeals
Discipline, not
punishment
Employee
privacy &
monitoring
Module 14-17

List at least four important

factors in managing
dismissals effectively.

Module 14-18

Managing Dismissals
Termination at will and wrongful
discharge
Grounds for dismissal
o Unsatisfactory performance
o Misconduct
o Lack of qualifications for the job
o Changed requirements
Module 14-19

Managing Dismissals
Other issues in dismissals
o Insubordination
o Fairness
o Security measures

Module 14-20

Managing Dismissals
Avoiding wrongful discharge suits
Personal supervisory liability
The termination interview
o Outplacement counseling
o Exit interview

Module 14-21

Layoffs, Downsizing, and

the Plant Closing Law
The plant closing law
The layoff process
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

Objectives and constraints

Downsizing team
Address legal issues
Post-implementation actions
Security concerns
Remain informative
Module 14-22

Managing Dismissals

Preparing for layoffs

Dismissals effects
Bumping/layoff procedures
Layoff and downsizing alternatives
Adjusting to downsizings and mergers
o Merger guidelines
Module 14-23

Review (1)
Termination at will and wrongful
discharge
Grounds for dismissal
Insubordination
Fairness
Security measures
Avoiding wrongful discharge suits
Module 14-24

Review (2)

The termination interview

The plant closing law
The layoff process and preparation
Dismissals effects
Bumping/layoff procedures
Alternatives and adjusting
Module 14-25