Workplace%20Emotions,%20Values,%20and%20Ethics

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Workplace Emotions, Values, and Ethics
OS 386 September 17, 2002 Fisher
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Agenda

• Collect team research questions and subtopics
• Review case study requirements
• Discuss emotions, then values and ethics

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Written Case Study

• Due September 24
• Select Case Study 3.2 OR 4.2 from your text
• Do not respond to both
• Articles are available on textbook website
• Answer questions printed in textbook
• No more than three double-spaced pages

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Emotions

• When is it appropriate to display emotions at
  work?
• Cross-cultural differences in emotional display
  norms
• More appropriate in Italy than in Japan

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Emotional Labor

• Required emotional displays at work
• Think back to study on emotional displays by bank
  tellers
• Required in many jobs
• Emotional dissonance is a major source of job
  burnout
• Can you train people to display certain emotions?

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Emotional Intelligence

• We know cognitive ability, or intelligence,
  predicts job performance
• Emotional intelligence can also be important
• Ability to monitor feelings and emotions and
  interact with people appropriately
• Most important in jobs that require extensive
  social interaction

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Job Satisfaction

• Personal evaluation of job and work context
• Can be satisfied with some elements but not
  others
• Satisfaction is related to
• Turnover
• Absenteeism
• Theft
• Customer service

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Organizational Commitment

• Emotional attachment to the organization
• Affective
• Continuance
• Commitment is related to
• Turnover
• Motivation
• Organizational citizenship

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Other types of commitment

• Can also be committed to
• Profession (e.g., nursing, accounting)
• Union
• Customer
• Can hold dual commitments
• Multiple organizational units (e.g., expatriates
  committed to home and overseas units)

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What role do values have in organizations?

• Guide decision making
• Joining organizations
• Using resources
• Making corporate donations
• Sponsoring community activities
• Can be major source of conflict

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Defining mission, vision, values

• Done by many organizations
• Defining desired values helps to
• Make it explicit for everyone
• Assess if demonstrated values are off-track

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Example Values Statements
We pledge personal respect, fair compensation
and honest and equitable treatment.

• The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and
  refresh everyone who is touched by our business.

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Work should be fun?

• Companies known to value fun
• Southwest Airlines
• Southwest Airlines People Department
• Feel Free To Actually Enjoy What You Do
• Ben and Jerrys
• Often displayed on recruiting web pages and
  documents

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Cultural differences in values

• Individualism vs. collectivism
• Power distance
• Uncertainty avoidance
• Achievement vs. nurturing orientation
• Long- vs. short-term orientation
• Work-life balance

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Work-Life Balance in the US

• US has longest average hours of work (just under
  2000/yr)
• 70 of US workers worked 40 or more hours a week
• 14 in Germany
• 8 in Netherlands
• Many industrialized countries put more emphasis
  on family life and leisure

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Ethics

• Moral principles or values that determine whether
  actions are right or wrong
• What is the difference between ethical and
  legal?
• Many companies define ethical principles and
  provide training on ethics
• Important part of business school curriculum

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Social responsibility

• Moral obligation toward others who are affected
  by the organization
• Stakeholders
• Members of the community
• Employees
• What if the moral obligation conflicts with
  making money???
• What about staying in business?
• How to deal with conflict among interest groups?

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Individual Role in Ethics and Social
Responsibility

• Learn about corporate values and ethics
• Use values and ethics when making choices about
• Employment
• Investments
• Consumer behavior
• What can you do if your employer asks you to
  participate in something you feel is unethical?

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For next class

• Topic Current topics in ethics and social
  responsibility
• Identify an organization that demonstrates ethics
  or social responsibility in a way that you value
• Websites typically provide relevant information
• Be ready to give a brief (1-2 min) presentation
  on the company you select