Hearing about wrongdoing in the workplace can be stressful for many individuals, as they do not always know what to do with this information. Some may fear retaliation from those committing the unethical acts, while others have concerns over how they will be perceived by their fellow employees after they blow the whistle on another worker.
CBS MoneyWatch recently offered some advice to leaders in work settings where unethical behavior has arisen. When the incident looks as though it will have ramifications on their organizations, executives are advised to come clean about their problem, rather than run from it.
If the act of wrongdoing warrants a public apology, then the news source recommended that companies do so to make amends with anyone who may have been offended. At the same time, those who have been hurt by the incident should be allowed to vent, while organizations work to right the wrong they are ultimately responsible for.
In the event that an employee catches wind of an ethics violation that could have serious consequences for an organization, he or she should report it, according to author and consultant Alison Green’s Ask a Manager blog.
If professionals are still unsure of how they should handle wrongdoing at work, they can always take online business ethics courses to find the answers they seek.
