Ethical behavior is an important aspect of every organization that needs to be taken into consideration for its overall success. Organizations need to implement policies that make sure their employees are aware of the principles they must follow and take action against those who violate them. Sexualization refers to the act of making something have sexual connotations or qualities. It is common in many organizations nowadays where employees interact closely because of the nature of their jobs.
It is often misused, which can lead to unethical behavior among workers. This paper discusses how sexualized perception affects employee's perception of organizational ethics.
Organizational ethics refer to the values, beliefs, norms, principles, rules, standards, and procedures that govern what employees should do when performing their duties. These include honesty, respect, integrity, fairness, transparency, responsibility, confidentiality, accountability, loyalty, trustworthiness, and cooperation. Employees are supposed to uphold these principles while working so as to maintain a good reputation and achieve the company's goals. The ethical code provides a framework for decision-making, guiding individuals on how to behave in different situations.
If two employees are competing for promotion, one may decide not to use underhanded tactics but focus on his strengths and abilities instead. On the other hand, someone with low moral character will manipulate the situation to gain an advantage over others.
Sexualized perception affects employee's perception of organizational ethics by creating confusion about what is right and wrong. When there is sexualized behavior among coworkers, it leads to blurred lines between acceptable and unacceptable conduct. Some people might consider it harmless fun, while others view it as immoral. In some cases, employees engage in activities like flirting or gossiping about colleagues, which can be seen as unprofessional. They also engage in physical contact like touching, hugging, kissing, holding hands, etc., which may cross the boundaries of professionalism. These actions can lead to conflicts among staff members because they create suspicion, distrust, jealousy, envy, resentment, animosity, and hostility towards each other. As a result, the productivity of the organization reduces due to lost time arguing rather than working on assignments. It also creates an atmosphere where some workers feel threatened or victimized. They might even become despondent leading to absenteeism and reduced performance.
The second way in which sexualized perception affects employee's perception of organizational ethics is through coercion. Employees who have engaged in sexual relationships with their supervisors may feel obligated to do things that are unethical. The manager may force them into compromising situations or give them tasks that violate company policies.
He/she may ask the employee to take bribes or steal from the company's resources. This is especially true if they threaten to expose their secret affair to management unless the employee complies with their demands.
Sexualized behavior leads to favoritism, which is unfair treatment of employees based on personal likes and dislikes. People who work closely together develop emotional attachments, making it difficult for them to separate their feelings from business matters. Some individuals get preferential treatment because they are romantically involved with higher-ups or colleagues. This makes those who don't enjoy such benefits feel excluded and discriminated against. They see this as unfair and break the trust between the team members by creating an unequal playing field.
Sexualized perception affects employee's perception of organizational ethics by confusing what is acceptable or not, forcing them into immoral activities, and causing favoritism. Organizations should implement strict rules regarding employee conduct to avoid these problems. Managers must also be role models of ethical behavior to inspire others to follow suit. Above all, everyone needs to remember that professionalism comes first before personal desires.
How does sexualized perception affect employees' perception of organizational ethics?
In most cases, perception is an individual process that varies from one individual to another based on their experiences, values, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, it would be difficult to make any blanket statements about how sexualized perception might influence perceptions of organizational ethics across all individuals within an organization.