Workplace ethics

Professional or workplace ethics are based on values and beliefs about rights, responsibilities and good behaviour, and are held in common across an industry or sector. These also reflect contemporary social and cultural values and beliefs.

Some ethical principles are reflected in and supported by laws, but others may not be. What is legal may not always be right; what is right may not always be legal. Sometimes the line between what is illegal and what is unethical is a fine one. Generally if an act is illegal there will be a legal consequence.

If an act is unethical there may be other kinds of consequences; for example, feeling bad, loss of respect, loss of trust, and damage to relationships. In some cases, unethical acts can attract a legal penalty.

Here are some ethical principles relevant to community services work.