Practical Connection Assignment: Applying Ethics in the Workplace

This practical connection assignment reflects on the application of ethical theories in a law firm setting. The student, working in a litigation team, discusses how concepts like utilitarianism, deontology, and ethics of care are implemented through company policies and personal actions. The assignment details specific examples, such as the firm's 'week off' system, non-discrimination policies, and reimbursement for work-related expenses, illustrating how these practices align with ethical frameworks. The student also highlights personal applications of these ethics, including maintaining hierarchy, fostering collegiality, respecting colleagues, and upholding confidentiality. The reflection emphasizes the importance of these ethics in creating a positive work environment and contributing to the firm's success, drawing connections between academic learning and professional practice. The assignment demonstrates a clear understanding of ethical principles and their practical implications in the workplace, with references to the course curriculum and personal experiences within the legal environment.

Running head: PRACTICAL CONNECTION ASSIGNMENT
PRACTICAL CONNECTION ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author’s note:

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PRACTICAL CONNECTION ASSIGNMENT
There are several theories regarding ethics in the workplace, which I have been taught in
the courses conducted by the University of California. In this course, I have learnt about
utilitarianism theory, deontology theory, ethics of care, divine or religion command theory,
virtue ethics and many others, which is applicable in my workplace (Daniel, 2015). I am working
in a law firm in California after pursuing my law graduation degree from the university, as
mentioned above. I am working in the litigation team, and we have a written policy regarding
several benefits, as well as rules and regulations, which the employees of this firm should obey.
In these policies, the firm owners have provided a ‘week off’ system for the employees, where
they can able to take a leave in any day of every week regarding their personal requirements with
a prior discussion of team leader. The utilitarian theory has applied in this policy of ‘week off’.
This policy helps to provide an amount of happiness to the employees in my workplace as we
can take the leave in any day, and it will help us to do some work which is only conceivable in
weekdays. In my workplace, our employers have taken almost every decision on any matter,
such as case relating or client, which is not on the basis of individual desire or any strength
consequence, but also with a commitment that it is right to do. This policy of our employers is
satisfied with the deontology theory, which I have read in my graduation course. In our
employment policy, it has strictly written that there should not be any discrimination regarding
religion or gender during the course of employment. It can be mentioned to show the ethics of
non-discrimination on religion that there is a prayer hall in the boundary of our firm, which is
available for all. In my firm, the first aid medicines are always available for the employees for
any accidental incident. The female employees are able to avail their personal needs at any time
from our HRs and it helps in any emergency occurs at the office time. The employers have
fulfilled the ethics regarding the duty of care towards the employees and it also satisfies the other

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ethics in the workplace. The application of several ethics of the workplace is an essential factor
in continuing the work and the fruits of such labour, which is provided by the employees. It is a
duty to the employers to provide happiness to their employees to get a significant result from
them. In this firm, if the employees avail any vehicle of the work of this firm, then the expenses
can be reimbursed by the firm if the employees have applied for it with a proper application to
the HR. This reimbursement policy provided by employers is one of the ethics of the workplace,
which helps to be tension free for working in a better way. It is one of the crucial ethics for the
employers to provide an environment in the workplace that the employees, especially the female
workers, may feel secure and safety there. It is also essential for the employees that they should
treat their coworkers and associates in a better way. The ethics, as mentioned above, are applied
in my workplace and provides a suitable environment for work and doing our job in a better way.
I have applied these ethics in my workplace to give my best for the betterment of my firm, as
well as to satisfy my own ethics of working. As I am in the litigation team in this firm, I have to
travel to various courts for litigation in the courts. I have used that reimbursement policy of my
firm, such as when I have gone to any court, which is far from the area of this firm then I avail
cab and after return, I have applied for reimbursement. As an employee of this legal firm, I
always try to maintain the hierarchy position, which is an ethics of the firm, as well as it helps to
apply the ethical theories, which I have learnt in the university. Maintaining a hierarchy in any
situation has fulfilled such professional ethics also. If I have faced any problem regarding any
case, then I have asked my team leader rather than asking other people of my workplace. In any
decision making regarding any case, I always consult with my seniors in the firm as I have been
working here as a junior advocate. This ethic of maintaining hierarchy on the part of mine has
fulfilled the application of deontology theory of ethics in the workplace. I have tried to maintain

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a friendship with my colleagues at my level without any discrimination regarding gender or
religion. It can be mentioned as an example that I have shared my tiffin with them, and they have
also shared their tiffins. It can help to maintain the application of any professional ethics in the
workplace. I always try to respect the seniors, as well as the female colleagues that they always
feel secure and free when they work with me. Many times it has happened that my female
colleagues have become late to return their home from the office, then I have tried to wait for
them. this activity is an application of the workplace ethics of an employer which I have learnt
from my university. This is one of the moral or ethical duties of an employee. I have tried to
maintain the confidentiality of my work from any client of my firm as maintaining
confidentiality and privacy is one of the ethics of the workplace. This is an application of
workplace ethics, which I have learnt from the course, which has been conducted by the
university. I have tried to maintain and respect the team management, which has conducted by
the senior of my team. I have applied several workplace ethics for the improvement and benefit
of my firm as well as to satisfy the ethical standards in professional practice.

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Reference
Daniel, J. L. (2015). Workplace spirituality and stress: Evidence from Mexico and
US. Management Research Review.