Personal and Ethical Values
Ethical values are the foundation of people professionals’ work that guides workplace behavior, decisions, and relationships. ‘Ethical practice’ is one of the core behaviours on the CIPD Profession Map highlighted as a crucial prerequisite for an integrity-driven culture within HR (CIPD, 2023). “Ethical values provide the moral compass by which we live our lives and make decisions – ‘doing the right thing’ because it’s the right thing to do (CIPD Professional Map).”
On the other hand, personal values pertain to an individual’s ethical beliefs and ambitions for their personal qualities. As stated by Sagiv and Schwartz (2022), benchmarks or criteria are the guiding principles that dictate our way of life. Personal beliefs serve as the fundamental basis of one’s identity and can provide valuable insights into our perspective on life. Personal values are essential in shaping our character and can help us identify our beliefs. Personal values can change due to circumstances such as age or significant life events. Developing a thorough comprehension of one’s personal values is essential, as they have a central role in directing important decisions in life.
As an HR professional, one ethical principle that I ensure to uphold is Equality. In addition to being part of the law, I believe employees must be treated equally within an organization and no one should be discriminated upon for whatever reason. This commitment manifests through fair hiring practices, advocacy for diversity and inclusion, and prompt addressing of any forms of discrimination. For instance, in restructuring processes, I ensure transparency in the selection criteria, promoting a fair and merit-based approach that fosters an efficient transition, reduces resistance, and establishes a positive working atmosphere.
Another critical ethical value I uphold is Transparency. Open and honest communication, particularly in decision-making, is essential for building credibility. During organizational changes, transparency acts as a tool to manage expectations and address concerns, exemplifying fairness. For instance, in handling sensitive information such as employee grievances, strict confidentiality is maintained, creating a secure environment that supports employees (Al Halbusi et al., 2021).
A personal value that has great significance to me and has had a profound impact on my career is resilience. This has witnessed my relentless pursuit of numerous significant difficulties in the workplace and successfully persevered despite the challenging circumstances. Using This, I have successfully motivated myself to enhance my CPD through consistent learning. It has made me more adept at work and has contributed to my personal and professional growth.
Additionally, As an HR practitioner, I utilize empathy while confronting performance-related issues. Before promptly enacting disciplinary measures due to an employee’s deteriorating performance, I seek to comprehend the underlying causes. This may involve discussions on the employee’s personal or professional challenges. By cultivating empathy, I create a trustworthy workplace that encourages employees to reveal possible difficulties. This allows me to offer more efficient assistance or modifications, including supplementary resources or adaptable work arrangements.
