Human Resource Ethics

Human Resource Ethics

            Almost every individual has to make important and crucial decisions in his or her everyday life. These choices could be seen in various situations that tend to differ in their range of importance. It could be as simple as choosing the clothes a person should wear for a particular day or it could be as important as making life changing choices that could affect not only the person who is making the decision but other people as well. This kind of situation is observable for individuals who hold important positions in an organization. A human resource manager greatly exemplifies this kind of responsibility. He or she has to deal with numerous people that are affiliated in a certain company. An HR department representative has to make sure that all employees rights are uphold and their needs are properly taken care of. Moreover, it is also their job to make the right choices in hiring new employees for the company. They must see to it that these people are competent enough in order to be an asset to the organization. In relation to this, they also give people an opportunity for employment because it is within their hands if an applicant would be accepted or not. Being the case, an HR representative indeed has a vital role not only in terms of the proper operation of the organization but also in terms of the welfare of other people. As such, it is essential that their choices are guided by ethical standards in order to make sound decisions.

            HR representatives have to face challenging situations in their line of work. A good example of which is the situation wherein they have conflicting interest with the other administrators or official of the organization. In this case, the HR representative is face with the dilemma because several want to delete the KSAOs or the “job-related Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other characteristics that an applicant must have to perform successfully in the position” (National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). These managers want to remove the KSAOs that are related with the employees’ safety from the formal job description.

            As the HR department representative, I have to make an important decision with regards to this issue. First, I have to analyze the situation. As part of the team that is responsible in assessing the conduct of a job analysis I need to make sure that I make an ethical sound decision because the task I am doing has a great impact in the company and the people within it. I need to analyze the pros and cons of the matter at hand. If I would agree with the stand of the managers I am guaranteed that I would be in their good side and would not incur their wrath. This could even be beneficial on my part because they could help me to be promoted since they are part of the administration of the company. On the other hand, agreeing to the interests of this manager is a clear disregard for the law and the responsibility of an HR representative. The KSAOs should be a part of a job requirement especially since it deals with the security of the employees. Removing it could lead to detrimental consequences that could have a huge cost to the company and its stakeholders.

            The most ethically appropriate decision that I could make is to do all the possible ways that could maintain the KSAOs as a job requirement. I could talk to the HR department manager and consult with him the issue. I would explain my case to him by explaining that maintaining the KSAOs is for the best interest of the company and its people. Removing it from the job requirement could lead to disadvantageous consequences like making more employees susceptible to danger and even the company could face lawsuits for disregarding the law. Furthermore, I would also suggest that it would be better if the managers’ point of view will also be heard in order for them to defend such kind of decision. In doing so, it could be possible that through negotiations both parties could reach a mutually beneficial decision that does not need the removal of the KSAOs.

            In this case, I applied the Universalist principle of ethics that takes into consideration the situation of other people. I put myself in the shoes of the employees who would be put at risk by removing the KSAOs. I also thought about the welfare of the company because disregarding the law for the interests of the managers could be one of the reasons of the downfall of the company. Is ever this situation happens all people who depend upon the organization for their source of living would suffer. I deem that doing such action is an ethically sound decision because I take into consideration not only my welfare but the well-being of others.

Reference

National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d). All About KSAOs. Retrieved November

            5, 2008, from http://www.archives.gov/careers/jobs/ksas.pdf.