Ethics and Human Resource Management

Abstract

Human Resource practitioners face decisions involving ethics on a regular basis. The author provides examples from personal experience of three kinds of challenges: discerning what is right, fulfilling agency responsibilities, and avoiding conflicts of interest. She suggests ongoing reading, reflection, and education to build one’s capacity for real-time decision-making. To assist in discerning what is right, she suggests considering others’ perspectives, identifying unintended consequences, and engaging in continuing education. While the author identifies ways to navigate many ethical challenges within the role of HR professional, she recognizes that some may require a willingness to leave a job.