Ethical Issues in Human Relations counseling Essay

Ethical actions at all levels of human operations [personal or corporate] form the main basement of higher productivity and progress in the society. Kidder points out that the demand for ethical actions has intensified with time as more people become aware of their rights thereby increasing the overall pressure especially to respective authorities in demand for justice (2003, 58-60). Researchers indicate that though cases of unethical professional acts have been increasing with time, over 98%of perpetrators have full knowledge on the same ideologies and principles considerations. According to Cohen, professionals have one of the most important roles of adhering to the demands and requirements of ethics in their duties at all times (1998, 150-155). Understanding of this theory therefore forms the basis of making the correct decisions in resolving different cases and dilemmas that face them in their daily chores. Cohen explains that the theory requires the professionals to assume actions that only result to the greatest good and to the largest number of people at any instance (1998, 175-178). To add to that, it anchors the ability to effectively analyze prevailing situations and prediction of the expected consequences to infer the best decisions. To add to that, the professionals are able to compare their situations with others related cases that took place previously to make up the best decisions in their areas of work. Such comparisons act as major facets upon which the professionals base their calls for change to infer improvements in their areas of work. Taking into consideration that professionals are relied on by other junior staff and the public for guidance, it becomes possible to uphold the rights of all the respective parties without inferring any sense of sabotage. Under the modern system of globalism and fast dynamism in consumerism, the theory would bring out the need for new inclusive decision making systems that incorporates all the people at different levels for acceptance of the decisions made to enhance their further applicability. Professional ethics is a term used to denote the moral issues and obligations that arise from professional specialization and higher levels of knowledge as compared to the rest of the public and/ or the junior staff. As a result many of the scholars tend to define and specify professional ethics on the basis of what they are required to do as opposed to what the concept is really about. Firstly, they are expected to hold professional respect to their clients and their duties at all times through the principle of responsibility. This is generally emphasized because professionals are capable of exploiting their authority and status at the expense of their clients. This notion has often led to the question of the extent to which the professionals should be held accountable for their actions, a notion that has led to major quagmires in the market place. Professional ethics therefore demands operations that are based on true conscience that is not undermined by any commercial underpinning to sabotage the respect and integrity of the clients (American Psychological Association, 2001, 35-37). Kidder (2003, 78-79) explains that professional ethics demand operations within the professional guidelines, seeking the highest possible returns and advice and honesty to the clients. As indicated earlier, professionals hold the helm of national and global development in that they guide their clients on how to progress with different projects. It is therefore considered that failure to effectively give the correct guidance is a direct injustice to the client and the nation in general. To ensure that the professional ethics are adhered to by different professionals, regulatory bodies like engineering society, medical societies and auditors fraternity among others that draw codes of ethics expected for their specialists and address their clients complaints are formed. As indicated earlier, professionals are entrusted with variant responsibilities that demands them to act responsibly even without supervision. In criminal justice, judges have the moral and ethical obligation to ensure that the complainant get the necessary justice while convicted victim get a fair judgment depending with the offenses made. In such cases, the judges should understand that their judgments have further ethical implications to the whole community. To add to that, human resources managers have the ethical responsibilities of ensuring that staff and workers have the correct working environment. Besides, they also have the moral obligations of ensuring that their staff is remunerated appropriately not just as per the law demands, but on their work, motivation considerations and the overall returns of the company. In addition, accountants have the direct moral obligations to give the correct status of a company even if it is making losses as opposed to the general temptations to cover up the problems. This usually leads to to reluctance in addressing the main problem and therefore precipitates to later collapse of the company as it happened with Enron Company (Marianne, 2006, 54-59). Counselors have at times fallen into major temptations to operate against their professional ethics in the course of their duties. Most of them indicate that the main cause for their temptations has been corruption especially by the wealthy individuals who lure them to compromising their decisions (Peterson, 1992, 65-67). Being advanced in form of bribery, unprincipled counselors easily overlook different cases and aspects that could have warranted greater considerations. Besides, they may also be tempted to act less ethically when the end appears highly uncertain and perhaps threatening to them. Cases of life threats that are either directed to counselors and/ or their families may make them to withdraw from such cases or act directly different from what they are expected to. Finally, where there is no goodwill from the clients, the counselors may equally loose the drive to effectively operate ethically in dispose their duties. Though some researchers have indicated their support for to such responses, the notion is indeed very wrong in that counselors should lead in analysis of such situations under the ethical theories and take the best possible courses of actions that lead top the highest good. Presently, there are major cases and issues that face professionals in their different areas of operations that demand careful addressing for ethical progression. If I am faced with such a situation where responsibilities are not immediately clear, I would exploit the following avenues. To begin with, I would seek advice of a friend who has been in the field for a longer time than I and therefore most probably have had such cases and solved them in the past. It is clear that no man is an island and therefore, this relation would be promoted for further later consultations on similar matters. To add to that, I could also seek to get into greater and in depth analysis of the situation by evaluating similar or related cases to make the best decision that will be highly acceptable but within the ethical realms as demanded by the ethical theory. Job market has been dogged with a myriad of unethical issues especially relating to management of workers operations. Many of the ethical issues generally result as the different companies try to reduce the overall costs, evade responsibilities, or stick to different stereotypic notions in their management. Before deciding to form my own company, I was discriminated on the basis of my color immediately after finishing college where I could not secure a job as my white colleagues easily got employed. To add to that, even after getting my first job in the industry, I was soon shifted to work with workers who were far much inferior to me academically until I quit the job. In the later job, similar ethics disregard were encountered as payment was very poor and many of the workers filed their cases in courts against the company. As if that was not enough, the working conditions for the low level workers was very low and we filed more cases in court before the company was closed to upgrade its systems for better working conditions. Conclusion It is from the above consideration that this paper concludes by supporting the thesis statement that ethical actions at all levels of human operations [personal or corporate] form the main basement of higher productivity and progress in the society. Professionals and counselors should uphold the demands of the theory of ethics due to the positions they hold and their main impacts to the society. Indeed, taking ethical responsibilities at all times would stimulate similar actions at the lower levels of the society, a consideration that would reduce the shenanigans of the low ethics at all levels. However, there is need for stronger institutions that guard against exploitation of the same ethics exploitation by the professionals. Finally, it is important to establish a strong relationship between the professionals, counselors, and the public to educate the later on their rights and channels to guard their integrity and dignity. Reference list American Psychological Association (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed. ). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN 9781557987914. Cohen, G. ed (1998). The Vituous Therapist: Ethical practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Belmont, CA: Thonpsom Wadsworth. ISBN 9780534344085. Kidder, R. (2003). How good people make tough choices: Resolving the dilemma of ethical living. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780688175900 Marianne, J. (2006). The seven signs of ethical collapse: How to spot moral meltdowns in companies before it’s too late. New York: St. Martin’s Press, ISBN0312354304 Peterson, M. (1992). At personal risk: Boundary violations in professional-client relationship. New York: Norton. ISBN 9780393701388.