Business
Fact-checked

At SmartCapitalMind, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What Is the Role of Ethics in Human Resource Management?

Esther Ejim
Esther Ejim

The role of ethics in human resource management is simply the fact that ethics is the chief cornerstone of the entire human resource management practice. Indeed, human resources (HR) deals with the personal aspects of the business enterprise, and it touches on many issues that require the application of ethical standards. Some of the areas that demonstrate this include the hiring of employees and issues of promotion, discrimination, sexual harassment, and privacy, as well as the practice of stated occupational safety and health standards.

One of the primary functions in the human resources department is the hiring of workers. This is an important responsibility that has many ramifications for the prospective employees who may either benefit from getting the job or remain unemployed. The human resource manager, who often has the final say when it comes to the decision regarding whom to hire, must be truly ethical in the hiring process. He or she must ensure that people are hired based on merit, not any personal or professional bias, preferences, or inclinations. For instance, if a male human resource manager is faced with the decision of hiring one out of two females, he must ethically base his final decision on the more qualified of the pair and not the more attractive.

One of the primary functions in the human resources department is the hiring of workers.
One of the primary functions in the human resources department is the hiring of workers.

Human resources managers and other employment decision makers must not abuse their position by trying to use it as a means for sexually harassing prospective or current employees. For instance, the application of ethics demands that the human resources manager must not demand sexual favors from desperate applicants in return for promises of employment. Managers must not demand sexual or any other favors from workers in return for keeping their jobs or continuing to receive certain benefits.

Ethics is the chief cornerstone of the entire human resource management practice.
Ethics is the chief cornerstone of the entire human resource management practice.

Of course, the role of ethics in human resource management would not be complete without the important issue of discrimination, such as those based on religion, sex, handicap, race, physical attributes, sexual orientation, political affiliations, or even something as trivial as the sports team a prospective employee supports. Sometimes, the decision about whom to employ depends more on the inclinations of the human resources manager than on the needs of the organization. Any organization where the HR processes are not firmly rooted in ethics will eventually suffer in terms of incompetent employees and a reduction or lack of fulfillment in production capacity.

You might also Like

Discussion Comments

Logicfest

Ethics do form the cornerstone of human relations but, unfortunately, there is often pressure for an HR manager to discard those ethics from time to time. For example, someone with a little power in a company might decide to pressure an HR manager into firing rivals while execs might try to sneakily inflict their discriminatory believes on a company by getting an HR manager to go along.

There's always pressure to go along with what the powers may be want, and ethics will often go out he window when someone is worried about keeping that job that supports their family.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • One of the primary functions in the human resources department is the hiring of workers.
      By: BlueSkyImages
      One of the primary functions in the human resources department is the hiring of workers.
    • Ethics is the chief cornerstone of the entire human resource management practice.
      By: Jeanette Dietl
      Ethics is the chief cornerstone of the entire human resource management practice.
    • Human resource managers should not abuse their positions.
      By: Monkey Business
      Human resource managers should not abuse their positions.
    • It is illegal for human resource managers to discriminate against prospective employees on the basis of gender.
      By: Innovated Captures
      It is illegal for human resource managers to discriminate against prospective employees on the basis of gender.
    • An ethics policy might tackle issues such as office rumors.
      By: Wrangler
      An ethics policy might tackle issues such as office rumors.
    • Some human resource ethics issues are related to cultural diversity.
      By: ryflip
      Some human resource ethics issues are related to cultural diversity.