Ethical choices aren’t always obvious and HR, like many other areas of management, is often forced to select a course of action that has unpleasant consequences like dismissing and employee or facilitating a layoff of many employees. What can you do to enhance your abilities in acting ethically? We offer some guidelines. 

1. Know your organization’s policy on ethics. Company policies on ethics describe what the organization perceives as ethical behavior and what it expects you to do. HR is often responsible for communicating policies and ethical training. 

2. Understand the ethics policy. Just having the policy in your hand does not guarantee that it will achieve what it is intended to. Ethics policies provide guidelines for uniform decision making throughout the organization. 

3. Think before you act. Ask yourself, “Why am I going to do what I’m about to do? What led up to the problem? What is my true intention in taking this action? Is my reason valid, or are ulterior motives behind it, such as demonstrating organizational loyalty? Will my action injure someone? Is that injury unavoidable?” 

4. Ask yourself “what‐if ” questions when you think about why you are going to do something. The following questions may help you shape your actions: “What if I make the wrong decision? What will happen to me? To my job? What if my actions were described, in detail, on the local TV news, or in the newspaper, or posted on Facebook? Would it bother or embarrass me or those around me? What if I get caught doing something unethical? Am I prepared to deal with the consequences?” 

5. Seek opinions from others. Ask for advice from other managers or the organization’s legal counsel. They may see consequences you have not considered. 

6. Do what you truly believe is right. You have a conscience, and you are responsible for your behavior. Be true to your own internal ethical standards. Ask yourself, “Can I live with what I’ve done?”