Double Standard of Workplace Ethics

My job stinks, and generally I think about things at work to pass the time, many of them pertaining to the nature of the workplace, work itself, and the cumulative effect thereof and how they impact society, the family, etc. Today I got to thinking about how ethics are applied differently to different individuals, depending on what level of the work place hierarchy they exist on.

There are many ways that managers, CEOs, executives, and others skirt around labor law and commonly held principles about what is ethical or just, in order to achieve the bottom line of profit. Is this not unethical or immoral? I think it is, but rarely does the general public think about this double standard. We're held to a very tight moral compass which may range from dress restrictions ( conservative clothing only, no visible tattoos, no piercings) to having our personal lives used against us which may result in the loss of employment or general workplace condemnation resulting in ostricization or other unfriendly actions.

I simply don't understand why our employers can nickle and dime us, rob us of sick, overtime, or holiday pay, but it's wrong if a person has a moment of weakness and has a DWI, or if they show a tattoo, or they engage in other unethical behavior. Standards need to be applied more universally with fewer exceptions. Am I condoning unethical behavior? Certainly not, although I do believe in second chances, everybody makes mistakes in times of weakness, so I do accept the notion of one second chance. However, whoever is cooking the books, top or bottom of the ladder, all need to be held to the same level of moral demand.

Furthermore, is it not unethical or a detriment to society that Americans are working more and more at the expense of family and personal relationships? Ethics extends beyond the law, beyond institutions and government. Is it lawful to make a person work? Certainly. But, is it ethical and moral to make them work to the brink of insanity? Individual psychological well being, as well as fulfilling relationships suffer at the expense of the greater demand that is being placed on the American worker. And that is just it, we're viewed as little worker bees, not as human beings who have needs beyond the workplace. Until this notion is challenged however, we will not make any headway on these issues. It's not a privilege to be able to spend time with your kids, or wife, or close friends, or whoever makes you're life fulfilling, it is a right. The reduction of humanity in this country is astounding. Bottom line, as is exemplified by the double ethical standard, employer needs trump those of the employed, because among other reasons, the number employed or in need of employment will always outnumber the employers. Thus, we are more expendable.

With this being said, I refuse to remain quiet when this double standard is applied to myself, or to those that I care about. Power is not something that should be demanded, it should be commanded and it should be legitimate. This means that "power", and i use the term loosely, should be conferred upon the holder by those being lead with the realization that it can be revoked. In the workplace this is relevant because power is often abused to hold the worker hostage in a precarious state of fear, and uncertainty over when their boss is going to strike them next. This is unfair, and the anxiety that results from this authoritarian structure in most workplaces is extremely alarming.

In conclusion, ethics do not need to be abolished, they simply nee to be applied universally and equally. And the bottom line should not always take precedence over family, community, and friendship. But, I guess it's hard when as an employer that fat bonus at the end of the year depends upon it.

Random thoughts on John Edwards

I just read a good article on John Edwards, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, and how he is trying to represent a fresh perspective on American politics and society. As the article notes, he describes Hillary Clinton as a candidate of the status quo. Now, I like Hillary Clinton, I think she's done a lot of good things for the State of New York and America throughout her life. She has the right stance on issues, but I do agree with the articles assessment of her. I like John Edwards, and if it weren't for our broken electoral system, I would vote in the Democratic primary for him, unfortunately I am not a registered Democrat therefore I am rendered rather irrelevant. Whether or not John Edwards is simply trying to distance himself from the other candidates I don't know, but I do like somebody who is able to tackle the class issue in America, and to actually comment on the status quo.

It's refreshing to hear somebody talk about issues that need to be talked about in America, primarily the maldistribution of wealth in America, and the lack of focus on domestic issues such as health care and education. However, my cynicism does creep in and tells me to not trust this man because how will anybody truly change a system, and invert the power structure, without engendering a tremendous backlash from those currently in more? Well I'd rather vote for somebody who is at least talking the talk, and I'll take my chances on whether or not they walk the walk, rather than vote for somebody who doesn't even say the right things. Edwards, more so than Hillary or Obama, is willing to address one of the core issues of our time. His populist rhetoric is incredibly important. We need to stop fooling Americans into believing that there is no aristocracy in America, and that there is no problem with our economic system that all too often leaves people behind. This is not fomenting class rebellion, and if you argue that it is, so be it, because class warfare is waged on the lower and middle classes on a daily basis, by the media, the affluent, corporations, and many of their elected representatives. Well actually, those in power simply impart Americans with their personally selected and prepared ideas, and then let Americans divide themselves. Think about it.

So in the upcoming electoral hoopla, seriously consider who you'll vote for. The media feeds you Obama, Clinton, Giuliani, Romney, but what about the other guys? Republican and Democratic candidates aren't getting the proper treatment they deserve, at least not on par with that of the big four. What America needs is change. I think Edwards represents that. I guess I'll leave things at that for now.