Work Ethics In The Workplace

Women in the United States were not strongly associated with workforce until the Second World War. As men in their working age were drafted to fight in war, the previously thought “men’s jobs” needed a new labor force that would replace men. Consequently, women’s input in the workplace became more prominent, and the image of working women such as Rosie the Riveter became widespread. Rosie the Riveter became the symbol of women’s economic power and feminism. As the United States fueled its industries and labor force, the “competitive spirit” in working, or “work ethic”, grew as an everyday vocabulary in workplaces since the early 1970s (Address to the Nation on Labor Day). Today, work ethic is defined as characteristics and attitudes in which

With increasing number of women entering the workforce and holding high management positions, the question of gender difference in work ethics has risen among the citizens; do women have stronger work ethics than men in the United

According to the research done by two business ethics professors at University of Central Florida, women tend to value ethics higher than men do, which is reflected on their behaviors in their involvement of unethical situations. Women are less likely to engage in unethical behavior compared to men in certain situations, even when it were thought necessary to save one’s job, such as saleswomen being less likely to participate in unethical selling practices than salesmen. Women are also less likely to take shortcuts in estimating procedures, to buy stock on inside information, and to engage in illegal funds transfers. When faced with unethical situation, women are less likely to “do as ordered” or “do nothing” than men (Ambrose). Because women regard ethics as an important value in their lives, their actions strictly follow the rules and are free from other’s judgement. On the other hand, men are more likely to be self-centered when making decisions and are more lenient in their ethical values and reasonings. According to Andrea Learned, a social engagement specialist on sustainable business leadership and marketing to women, men rather prioritize proving their “masculinity” than ethics. Men put winning of negotiations before making ethical decisions, meaning that they are willing to take controversial or high-risk actions regardless of their morals