FACILITATOR NOTES: Start by sharing the presentation “Do ... · Work Ethic Definition Ethic: “A code of principles and values which guide our choices and actions, and determine

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Presentation do you mind?

FACILITATOR NOTES:Start by sharing the presentation “Do You Mind?”Use the presentation to motivate students and remind them of everyday situations where ethics are important.

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Work Ethic Module

EICC Logistics Technician Program

Jul 2008

FACILITATOR NOTES:Introduce the lesson.

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Objectives

Define work ethic and ethical decision making.

Examine values most sought by employers.

Assess personal values.

Identify areas in need of improvement.

Design an action plan to improve identified areas.

Reflect on working values and preferences.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Read the objectives.Answer any questions.

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Why Do We Talk About This?

Insufficientfoundational

skills

Low Work Ethic

Difficulty finding and/or holding

a good job

Low skills =

Low wages=

Lower Quality of

Life

We want you to succeed !

Work Ethic = Responsible Workplace Behavior

From an employee/personal point of view …

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. X.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Explain each point on the slide.Share the following and answer any questions.

•We want you to be the most articulate candidate and best employee possible in your job.

Note: in the insufficient skills give an example to prevent hurt feelings of some people in the audience, because they think they have not sufficient skills.

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Why Do We Talk About This?

Work Ethic = Healthy and Prosperous Business

From a management point of view …

Less Productivity

Less Quality

$$$ Loss

Low Work Ethic

Customer Satisfaction

Suffers

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. X.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Explain each point on the slide.Share the following and answer any questions.

•Our focus is workplace related but these skills can be applied in any area of your life.

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Before We Continue …

Ethics is a hard topic but important to explore.We encourage you to relate your own experiences or cases with which you are familiar.We request that you keep everything you hear confidential.No external judging of shared experiences is allowed.We want you to reflect and learn from life experiences.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the following and answer any questions.

•You are required to journal your experiences (write them down; use a Personal Journal notebook or folder).•You will keep your papers (you need not hand them in), but writing things down may encourage you to share them with the teacher and/or group.•Sharing is not mandatory; share only when you feel it is helpful to your growth and understanding.

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Brainstorm

What is Work Ethic ?

What doesWork Ethic involve?

FACILITATOR NOTES:Ask the students to brainstorm:

•What is “work ethic”?•Who needs work ethic?•Where is work ethic most important?•When is work ethic important?•Why do I need work ethic?•How can I improve my own work ethic?

Accept all answers.List them on the board, flip chart, etc.Discuss those items that students agree represent the most important aspects of “work ethic”.

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Work Ethic Definition

Ethic: “A code of principles and values which guide our choices and actions, and determine the purpose and course of our lives.”Source: Character at Work – Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

“Work ethic is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence … work ethic may include being reliable, having initiative or maintaining social skills.”Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_ethic

SOURCES: • Definition of Ethic: 4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical

decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 17.

• Definition of Work Ethic: Wikimedia Foundation Inc. (2007, September). Work ethic. (Wikipedia contribution derived from Daniel T. Rogers. The Work Ethic in Industrial America, 1850-1920. Univ. of Chicago Press, 1978.) Retrieved 17 December 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_ethic.

FACILITATOR NOTES:1. Present the official definitions.2. Discuss any differences between the brainstormed responses and the accepted

definitions.3. Stress the importance of ethical behaviors and how decisions can determine the

course of our lives.4. Offer some well known examples of bad ethical decisions (i.e. cases of Enron,

or Marta Stewart imprisonment, Michel Vic and dog fighting, steroids in baseball, etc.)

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Work Ethic

… but “ethics is about character and moral courageand how we meet the challenge when doing the ‘right’thing will cost us more than we want to pay.”

All of us can, in one way or another, differentiate right from wrong in most situations …

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. [Definition: “Ethics are about character and moral courage…” and example suggested to the youth development facilitator.] Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 17.

FACILITATOR NOTES:After the second paragraph, “Ethics are about character and moral courage …” ask the following questions and discuss any examples offered:

•Have you ever lost a friendship, job, or opportunity:•Because you told the truth?•What did you do?•What happened?•Did it help to develop your character?•Did it take moral courage to tell the truth?•How did you make your decision?

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Work Ethic – Personal Journal

Exercise # 1 Identify situations in your past where it was hard to do the ‘right’ thing.

(work-related or not)

FACILITATOR NOTES:1. Distribute the Hand out # 12. Ask students to identify situations in their past where it was hard to do the ‘right’

thing.3. Allow approximately 5 minutes to complete.

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Work Ethic

Ethics Standards of conduct

How one should behave is based upon:Moral DutiesObligations Virtues

SOURCES: • 4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for

the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 17.


• The nature of ethics:1. Moral duty requires the ability to discern ‘right’ from ‘wrong’,

proper behavior from impropriety, and good from evil.2. An obligation is a commitment to do what is ‘right’, good and

proper.3. Virtue is morality, the habit of being ‘good’.

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Brainstorm

What are some examples of our moral duties and obligations ?

How do we relate our moral duties and obligations

to standards of conduct?

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the following and answer any questions.Moral Duties and Obligations

• We often experience conflict in two major areas:1. Conflicts of interest – where our goals differ from those of our employer.2. Conflicts in commitment – where the amount of effort we dedicate to a job differs from what

the employer expects.• We make assumptions that are different from those of our employers.• Our priorities may be different.• Differences usually occur in areas concerning:

• Family• Items of value• Organizations with which we are affiliated (such as unions)• Personal and social associations (like close friendships with coworkers)

Standards of Conduct• The British government believes the following seven principles should apply to any employee who

works with the public.1. Selflessness 2. Integrity3. Objectivity 4. Accountability* 5. Openness 6. Honesty 7. Leadership

• The Bettendorf committee for Business and Education Partnership identified five categories for ethical work behavior:

1. Initiative and Drive2. Teamwork3. Accountability*4. Problem Solving5. Reliability

• Note that accountability shows up in both lists.• Accountability means you take responsibility for your decisions and actions whatever the

result. You accept your employer’s evaluation and any merit or criticism that result. You give your best effort, evaluate your own work, and complete work to quality standards.

SOURCES: Business Education Network (Nd.). Business and Education Partnership Work Ethic Rubric. IA: Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce.Committee on Standards in Public Life (2007, March 10). The Seven Principles of Public Life. London, UK. Retrieved 21 December 2007, from http://www.public-standards.gov.uk/about_us/the_seven_principles_of_life.aspx. University of Wisconsin System, Department Chairs (2002, April 3). Ethics Seminar Outline. (Video-conference results). Retrieved 21 December 2007, from http://www.uwsa.edu/gc-off/deskbook/ethics_seminar2.doc.

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Work Ethic

Ethics is an action concept, not just a philosophical theory

“Is” vs. “Ought”

Consequential vs. Inconsequential

FACILITATOR NOTES:Mention that:• Ethics is an action concept, not just a philosophical theory• Is ethics or descriptive ethics:

- Are operational standards of behavior – what people do and are doing how an individual or group actually behaves.

- “Is” ethics provide no basis for distinguishing right or wrong because they are based on personal preference.

- People lie, steal and cheat simply because they want to or they can get away with it.• Ought ethics or prescriptive or normative ethics:

- Are concerned with a commitment to principles which establish norms’ of behavior which apply to every person.

- Such ethics focus on how people should behave without reference to how things actually are.

• Consequential vs. Non-consequential- Consequential:

Ethical decisions are often made in terms of the consequences of our actions. We act on the basis of what will happen or not happen on the basis of our actions.

- Non consequential: Make decisions apart from any consequence, act in the way one should act if one is a “good” person.

Mention several examples:1. The price of an item is more expensive than a client can get elsewhere. You know you

ought to tell the client about the other options. Do you push the client to buy what you have available in order to get your commission?

2. You need pens and paperclips at home. The office is well stocked with these items. You know there will be no consequences. Do you take a few for personal use?

Ask students to share their own examples.

SOURCES: 4H Youth Development (2005).Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 18.

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Exercise # 2 Identify someone you know whom you admire for their work habits and think what makes them an example

SOURCES: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension – 4H Youth Development . Booklet – “Journal One exercise”

FACILITATOR NOTES:•Hand-out The Exercise # 2 sheet to the students which reads

Someone I know whom I admire for their work habits and work ethic is: ________________________What qualities does the person exhibit?What do you admire about this person?What is this person good at?What is this person’s style of work?How does this person handle critical ethical dilemmas at work?Describe this person’s characteristics and qualities

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If You Want … Share Your Appreciation

It’s always nice to let others know when they are doing things right !

Source: http://cbs13.com/watercooler/safe.drivers.sacramento.2.612778.html

Nice surprise ! Would you share your thoughts about his/her work ethic and values with a person you admire?

SOURCES•Associated Press (2007, December 17). California Police Reward Good Drivers With Coffee. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http://cbs13.com/watercooler/safe.drivers.sacramento.2.612778.html.


•From the management point of view, praising people when they do the right thing or set a good example is very important. Praise is critical to mentoring. Praise helps to ensure adequate performance.•If you have a way to contact the person you admire, please do. They might enjoy hearing about your choice. Send an email or a handwritten note. A phone call is always nice.

Provide the script job aid to encourage students to make contact.

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Work Ethic and Good Working Values

Graphic of steps to make ethical decisionsW O R K E T H I C

Principles of Character


•A productive work ethic requires sound principles of character.•Socially accepted morals.•Ability to meet obligations.•Virtuous behavior.

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Josephson's Six Pillars of Character

CaringCitizenshipFairnessRespectResponsibilityTrustworthiness

Source: Character at Work – Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Adapted from Josephson’s Model for Making Ethical Decisions.

SOURCES•4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. X.•Josephson Institute. (2007). The Six Pillars. Character Counts! Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://charactercounts.org/defsix.htm.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the following.CaringBe kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need CitizenshipDo your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment FairnessPlay by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others •Don’t blame others carelessly RespectTreat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements ResponsibilityDo what you are supposed to do • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices TrustworthinessBe honest • Don’t deceive, cheat or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends and country

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Work Ethic

Let’s watch the “Thank You for Smoking”

movie trailer

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/thankyouforsmoking/trailer/

FACILITATOR NOTES:Ask students to identify the aspects of character presented in the video.

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Work Ethic

When what is good for some, is bad for others …

We need to …

Make ethical decisions !

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the following questions and discuss.

•Is it possible for a work ethic to be right for you and not for your coworkers or clients?•What do you need to make ethical decisions?

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Brainstorm

How do I make an ethical decision ?

What should I consider when

making an ethical decision?


•How do you make an ethical decision?•What should you consider when making an ethical decision?

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Ethical Decisions

Ethical Decision

Principles

OptionsChoices Reasons

Ethical dilemma

1. Interest of all stakeholders

2. Ethical > Non-ethical3. Greatest balance of

good in the long run

Ethical principles are the ground rules of

decision making – not just factors to consider

SOURCES:•4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 20, 34-35.


•Ethical dilemmas can arise at any time.•There may be many realistic options.•You will have to make choices.•Be sure the reasons for making your choice are sound.•Consider the interest of all stakeholders, everyone involved.

•Ethical decisions are based on ethical principles.•Ethical principles are the ground rules of decision making.•Ethical decisions may not seem right to everyone involved at thetime, but always achieve the best results in the long run.

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Ethical Decisions

It is OK to lose …in fact, it is better to lose than to lie, steal or cheat in order to win.

People who are unwilling to lose have to be willing to do whatever

it takes to win.

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Booklet.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Give students a moment to read the slide.Discuss.

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Ethical Decisions

One Approach to Making Ethical Decisions

Identify Evaluate Decide ImplementMonitor &

Modify

Source: Character at Work Course – Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

• Clarify the problem

• Ethical principles at risk?

• Facts vs. Beliefs/Wants

• Identify truth

• Ponder consequences

• Decide what to do

• Plan how to implement the decision

• Act

• Follow up

• Follow through

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 37-38.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the slide and answer any questions.

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Exercise # 3 Let’s consider a case that requires make an ethical decision.

SOURCES: • 4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace.

Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. X.

FACILITATOR NOTES:1. Hand-out Exercise # 2, Case Study worksheet which reads:

• Case # 2.1Your elderly grandparents have asked you to visit them over the holidays. (You are away at

school.) You have already signed up to work. The business offers double-time pay when you work holidays. Some of your friends who are visiting from out of town are planning great parties for Friday and Saturday. Your parents (who know about work, but not about the parties) advise you to, “Do what you think is best”. You know that they really want you to spend time with your grandparents. What do you do?

• Case # 2.2You work in the administration office of a large company. You type a confidential memo for

your supervisor, listing the names of ten people who will be laid off involuntarily in about one month. Your close friend Morgan’s name is on the list. That evening, Morgan stops by to see you and shares that her family has finally found the home of their dreams. With both her and her husband working, they can afford the house payment, even though money will be tight. Do you tell Morgan about the lay off?

2. Have students label a sheet in their Personal Journal notebook “Case Study”.3. Ask students to describe what they would do in one of the two situations presented.

The following two slides repeat the case studies.

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Case # 1Your elderly grandparents have asked you to visit them over the holidays. (You are away at school.) You have already signed up to work. The business offers double-time pay when you work holidays. Some of your friends who are visiting from out of town are planning great parties for Friday and Saturday. Your parents (who know about work, but not about the parties) advise you to, “Do what you think is best”. You know that they really want you to spend time with your grandparents. What do you do?

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 50.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Discuss Case # 2.1.

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Case # 2

You work in the administration office of a large company. You type a confidential memo for your supervisor, listing the names of ten people who will be laid off involuntarily in about one month. Your close friend Morgan’s name is on the list. That evening, Morgan stops by to see you and shares that her family has finally found the home of their dreams.

With both her and her husband working, they can afford the housepayment, even though money will be tight.

Do you tell Morgan about the lay off?


FACILITATOR NOTES:Discuss Case # 2.2.

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Graphic of steps to make ethical decisionsW O R K E T H I C


Working Values


•Now we see how working values support the principles of character that constitute our work ethic.•With a clear value system and good character, ethical decision making is easy.

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Graphic of steps to make ethical decisionsWORK ETHIC


Working Values

Workplace Behavior(Your Actions and Decisions)

Affects

+

+

YOU and YOUR

CAREER

THE COMPANY

and ITS

REPUTATION


•Easy ethical decision making enables you to do what is best at work.•Your actions prove that you are a dedicated and reliable employee.•A good work record leads to career growth and a stronger company.•You win; the company wins.•Your strong work ethic helps everyone.

Some Examples of people who did bad choices and affect the business:

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Working Values Wanted by Employers

Work HardWork SmartDependable and ResponsiblePositive AttitudeGood teammateAdaptableHonesty and IntegritySelf MotivatedMotivated to grow and learnSelf confidenceProfessionalism

Source: Attributes Employers Value Most in Candidates. Engineers Week, February 17-23, 2007.

SOURCES: •National Engineers Week Foundation (2007, February 17-23). Attributes Employers Value Most in Candidates. Retrieved 2 January 2008, from http://www.eweek.org/site/News/stats/attributes.shtml.


•Employers seek skills specific to the type of work required.•You learn these skills in school (e.g., how to manage inventory and follow safety regulations).•Values are more often learned in social settings.•Values may not get you the job in the first place, but they will determine how long you stay employed and whether you move ahead.•There are a core set of values all employers want from their employees:

•Work Hard•Work Smart•Dependable and Responsible•Positive Attitude•Good teammate•Adaptable•Honesty and Integrity•Self Motivated•Motivated to grow and learn•Self confidence•Professionalism

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Brainstorm

As a grouplet’s define these

working valuesand

share the findings

FACILITATOR NOTES:Separate students into small groups of 3-4 people.Assign each group to define one or more of the core values presented on the previous slide.Try to assign the same number of values to each group but have each group define different values.

•Work Hard•Work Smart•Dependable and Responsible•Positive Attitude•Good teammate•Adaptable•Honesty and Integrity•Self Motivated•Motivated to grow and learn•Self confidence•Professionalism

Select one person from each group, at random, to present (i.e., explain) their definition to the other groups.

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Brainstorm

What other factorscan affect

our perception of ethics and values ?

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the slide’s question and discuss student suggestions.

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Ethical Behavior

Ethical principles may also relate to themorals valued by our …

Culture

Family

Spiritual and religious beliefs

Neighborhoods and communities


FACILITATOR NOTES:Ask for examples of the following.

•How are ethical principles determined by our•Culture?•Family?•Spiritual and religious beliefs?•Neighborhoods and communities?

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Ethical Behavior

Should ethical behavior changewith the jobs and professionsin which we are employed ?

Why or why not?

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the slide questions and discuss.

•Should ethical behavior be different in different jobs?•Do some jobs require a higher level of ethics than other jobs?•When is a lower level of ethics acceptable?

EXAMPLES•Lawyer that is defending someone guilty•Governor that have death penalty in his/her state (personal opinion vs. implementing the law)•Examples of dilemmas for journalists

How do you cover victims fairly? One of the toughest decisions journalists face is how to cover victims of crime, disaster and other circumstances that thrust unwilling people into the spotlight at one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Advance Review – To Show or Not to Show Advance review of copy is an area of wide disagreement. For some editors, it would be a firing offense for a reporter to show a story to a source prior to publication. Other editors want their reporters to show stories to sources before publication, at least in some circumstances. We will examine arguments on both sides of the issue and things to consider if you do show stories to sources, either as a routine or in special cases.

One Picture Is Worth a Thousand Complaints Photographs connect with readers in an emotional way that stories cannot. Decisions on whether to publish disturbing images should be made after the photograph is shot. Presuming access doesn’t involve improper behavior such as trespassing or crossing police lines, photographers should shoot a variety of pictures in situations that present disturbing images, then participate with their editors in the decisions about which images to publish.

When Do Private Matters Become News?Journalists frequently report about matters that most people consider private. We intrude because a news event thrusts a private person into the public eye. We inquire about private matters because we want to show the personal impact of a public issue. These issues present ethical considerations that reporters, photographers and journalists must consider.

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. p. 31.• http://www.notrain-nogain.org/Train/Res/Ethics/ETHIC.asp

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Ethical Behavior

FACILITATOR NOTES:Present the question on the slide and discuss.

•Knowing what we all know about ethical behavior, why are people still behaving unethically?

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Ethical Behavior

I was told to do

it!It wasn’t my fault!

Everybody is

doing it!

It doesn't hurt

anybody !

I was doing it for you!

I deserveit!

It costs just pennies!

I didn’t have time!

FACILITATOR NOTES:Pause to let students read the slide.

•Are these excuses or ethical actions?

Share the following and answer any questions.•People have lots of excuses for unethical behavior.

•Do you want your coworkers to give you excuses or act ethically?•They expect you to act ethically too.

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Examples of Myths of Ethical Behavior

SOURCES: •DeMars, N. (1998, April 2). You Want Me To Do What? When Where & How to Draw the Line at Work. Simon & Schuster: Fireside Edition. (ISBN-13: 9780684850467).

FACILITATOR NOTES:Pause to let students read the slide.

•Are these excuses or ethical actions?Answer any questions.

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Ethical Behavior

Some reasons why business people act unethically …

Source: “What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right,” Michael S. Jones, ABCNews.com, February 21, 2002

RationalizationBad role models in the organizationPeer pressureDifficulty in defining what is ethicalCorporate culturePressure from superiors

SOURCES: •Jones, M.S. (2002, February 21). What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right. ABCNews.com, [as cited in Business Ethics Activity Book, the: 50 Exercises for Promoting Integrity at Work by Marlene Caroselli, AMACON publisher, June 2003 (ISBN-13: 9780814472002).•Brainy Quote (2007). Selections from the database. Retrieved 20 December 2007, from http://www.brainyquote.com/.


•Excuses may seem like valid reasons.•It can be difficult to tell the difference.•Wisdom is the ability to tell whether something is a reason for behaving ethically or an excuse for behaving unethically.

Supplemental Exercise (if there is sufficient time available):1.Ask students to briefly list the most common excuses they hear at work.2.Then have them pair up with another student and examine their lists.3.Finally, ask them to determine the ethical action that should replace each excuse.4.Allow any students who wish to share their best examples with the class.

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Exercise # 4 Assess the different dimensions of value in your current or most recent job.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Hand-out Exercise # 3, “Work Ethic Assessment” worksheet.Allow approximately 5 minutes to complete.

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Self Assessment of Work Ethic

There is always room for improvement !

To exceed and excel, you must push yourself to higher levels !


•Do you agree?•How can we reach a higher level?

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Exercise # 5 Choose areas for improvement.(mark your assessment)

FACILITATOR NOTES:Refer students to the completed version of Exercise # 3.

• Based on your self assessment, choose areas that need improvement.• Either areas where you have any number 1 or 2. • If all areas have the number 3 (meets expectations) or above, choose a

category that you can improve.1. Initiative and Drive2. Teamwork3. Accountability4. Problem Solving5. Reliability

Allow 5 minutes to complete.

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Brainstorm

Ideas for improvement

FACILITATOR NOTES:Ask students to share the areas they identified for improvement.Discuss.

Supplemental Exercise #.1. Put areas for improvement in a bowl (anonymously).2. Then draw one by one.3. Ask students to suggest ideas on how to improve that area.4. Do several (maybe 6).5. List additional areas for improvement.

This exercise can be conducted in small groups or as a class.

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Exercise # 6 Create Action Plan

FACILITATOR NOTES:Hand-out Exercise # 5, the Action Plan worksheet.

• The Action Plan worksheet provides you with a template for organizing a plan of action.

• List the areas for improvement that you identified.• Design strategies for moving to a higher level, work ethic.

Major areas for improvement:1. Initiative and Drive (motivation, willingness to grow and learn, follows

through, efficient, exceeds expectations, eagerness)2. Teamwork (positive attitude. flexibility, commitment, respectful)3. Accountability (professionalism, thoroughness, accuracy, loyalty)4. Problem Solving (confidence, adaptability, willingness to take risks,

learning from mistakes, proactive)5. Reliability (dependability, punctual, meets deadlines, completes projects

on time, strong work ethic, honesty, integrity)

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Working Values and Preferences

When Working Values meets Personal Preferences …

What I like

to do

What I do

wellWhat I have to do

FACILITATOR NOTES:Ask students offer suggestions for each of the category bubbles on the slide.

•What do you like to do?•What do you excel at doing?•What does your prospective job ask you to do that you do not enjoy doing?•You have just identified personal strengths and occupational weaknesses.

Note: Stress that doing a job you don’t like at all. Make you more vulnerable to slip in some working values (i.e. be late, use company resources, etc.)

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Working Values and Preferences

When Working Values meets Personal Preferences …

What I like

to do

What I do

well

What I have to do

Company expectations about your

performance and work ethic

become more important than

personal preferences

FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the following and discuss.

• Companies have a right to expect a worker to perform the job s/he was hired to do – all of the job!

• How do we know if the job is right for us and we are right for the job?

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Working Values– Personal Journal

Exercise # 7 Personal Preferences vs. Expected Working Values

FACILITATOR NOTES:1. Have students label a sheet “Personal Preferences”.2. Ask students to list their personal preferences: what they like to do and what

they do well.3. Ask students to identify things they absolutely would not want to do on the job.4. Allow approximately 5 minutes to complete.

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Working Values

Articulating preferences in the job search and interview

1. Read the job description carefully.Know what the company expects.Even jobs with the same name may require different tasks.

2. Know your strengths and weaknesses.3. List your skills:

Knowledge gained from education and experienceTransferable skills such as the ability to communicate, get along with people, solve problems, plan, create, etc.Personal traits from your areas

4. Be ready to share these during your interview, but word them in a positive way.


1. Read the job description carefully.• Know what the company expects.• Even jobs with the same name may require different tasks.

2. Know your strengths and weaknesses.3. List your skills:

• Knowledge gained from education and experience• Transferable skills such as the ability to communicate, get

along with people, solve problems, plan, create, etc.• Personal traits from your areas

4. Be ready to share these during your interview, but word them in a positive way.

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Work Ethic – Remember …

What is right and wrong

What are acceptable standards of conduct

What attitudes and attributes foster and sustain society

The foundation of responsible workplace behavioris ethical thinking and reasoning such as:

SOURCES: •4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. Cover.


•What are the benefits of good work ethics?

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Sometimes people must choose

What I want What I want to be


FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the slide and discuss.

•What do you want to be?

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You will remember for years how good you felt about making a good decision.

Ethics have a price but also a value,which makes

self-restrain, sacrifice, service and charity worthwhile.


FACILITATOR NOTES:Share the slide and answer questions.

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Questions ?

Thank you for your time !

Thoughts ?

FACILITATOR NOTES:Answer any remaining questions about the lesson.

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EICC Logistics Technician Program

July 2008

Acknowledgments

Jennifer BestLora Kaisler

ATEEC ServicesTim Cottle

Mercedes Luna-Rivero

Dissemination PolicyThis product was funded by a grant awarded under the President’s Community-Based Job Training Grants as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The information contained in this product was created by a grantee organization (Eastern Iowa Community College District) and does not necessarily reflect theofficial position of the U.S. Department of Labor or Eastern Iowa Community College District. All references to non-governmental companies or organizations, their services, products, or resources are offered for informational purposes and should not be construed as an endorsement by the Department of Labor or Eastern Iowa Community College District. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it and is intended for individual organizational, non-commercial use only.

Copyright © 2008 EICCD, all rights reserved.Contact Eastern Iowa Community College District for permission.

Case studies and examples are fictitious.Any similarity to persons living or dead is merely coincidental.

FACILITATOR NOTES:This concludes the presentation.

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References and Bibliography4H Youth Development (2005). Character at Work: Ethical decision making for the workplace. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.Associated Press (2007, December 17). California Police Reward Good Drivers With Coffee. CBS Broadcasting Inc. Retrieved December 18, 2007, from http://cbs13.com/watercooler/safe.drivers.sacramento.2.612778.html.

Brainy Quote (2007). Selections from the database. Retrieved 20 December 2007, from http://www.brainyquote.com/.

Business Education Network (Nd.). Business and Education Partnership Work Ethic Rubric. IA: Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce.

Committee on Standards in Public Life (2007, March 10). The Seven Principles of Public Life. London, UK. Retrieved 21 December 2007, from http://www.public-standards.gov.uk/about_us/the_seven_principles_of_life.aspx. DeMars, N. (1998, April 2). You Want Me To Do What? When Where & How to Draw the Line at Work. Simon & Schuster: Fireside Edition. (ISBN-13: 978-0684850467).

Jones, M.S. (2002, February 21). What is Ethical: Politics, Circumstances, Excuses Can Blur What is Right. ABCNews.com, [as cited in Business Ethics Activity Book, the: 50 Exercises for Promoting Integrity at Work by Marlene Caroselli, AMACON publisher, June 2003 (ISBN-13: 9780814472002).

Josephson Institute. (2007). The Six Pillars. Character Counts! Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://charactercounts.org/defsix.htm.National Engineers Week Foundation (2007, February 17-23). Attributes Employers Value Most in Candidates. Retrieved 2 January 2008, from http://www.eweek.org/site/News/stats/attributes.shtml.University of Wisconsin System, Department Chairs (2002, April 3). Ethics Seminar Outline. (Video-conference results). Retrieved 21 December 2007, from http://www.uwsa.edu/gc-off/deskbook/ethics_seminar2.doc.

Wikimedia Foundation Inc. (2007, September). Work ethic. (Wikipedia contribution derived from Daniel T. Rogers. The Work Ethic in Industrial America, 1850-1920. Univ. of Chicago Press, 1978.) Retrieved 17 December 2007, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_ethic.

FACILITATOR NOTES:Present this slide briefly.

FACILITATOR NOTES: Start by sharing the presentation “Do ... · Work Ethic Definition Ethic: “A code of principles and values which guide our choices and actions, and determine

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