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Workplace Emotions, Values, and Ethics

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Agenda

• Collect team research questions and subtopics

• Review case study requirements

• Discuss emotions, then values and ethics

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Written Case Study

• Due September 24

• Select Case Study 3.2 OR 4.2 from your text– Do not respond to both– Articles are available on textbook website

• Answer questions printed in textbook

• No more than three double-spaced pages

4

Emotions

• When is it appropriate to display emotions at work?

• Cross-cultural differences in emotional display norms– More appropriate in Italy than in Japan

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Emotional Labor

• Required emotional displays at work– Think back to study on emotional displays by

bank tellers– Required in many jobs

• Emotional dissonance is a major source of job burnout

• Can you train people to display certain emotions?

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Emotional Intelligence

• We know cognitive ability, or intelligence, predicts job performance

• Emotional intelligence can also be important– Ability to monitor feelings and emotions and

interact with people appropriately– Most important in jobs that require extensive

social interaction

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Job Satisfaction

• Personal evaluation of job and work context• Can be satisfied with some elements but not

others• Satisfaction is related to:

– Turnover– Absenteeism– Theft– Customer service

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Organizational Commitment

• Emotional attachment to the organization– Affective– Continuance

• Commitment is related to– Turnover– Motivation– Organizational citizenship

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Other types of commitment

• Can also be committed to– Profession (e.g., nursing, accounting)– Union– Customer

• Can hold dual commitments– Multiple organizational units (e.g., expatriates

committed to home and overseas units)

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What role do values have in organizations?

• Guide decision making– Joining organizations– Using resources– Making corporate donations– Sponsoring community activities

• Can be major source of conflict

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Defining mission, vision, values

• Done by many organizations

• Defining desired values helps to– Make it explicit for everyone– Assess if demonstrated values are off-track

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Example Values Statements

                                                “We pledge personal respect, fair compensation and honest and equitable treatment.”

–“The Coca-Cola Company exists to benefit and refresh everyone who is touched by our business.”

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Work should be fun?• Companies known to value fun

– Southwest Airlines“Southwest Airlines People Department

Feel Free To Actually Enjoy What You Do”

– Ben and Jerry’s

• Often displayed on recruiting web pages and documents

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Cultural differences in values

• Individualism vs. collectivism

• Power distance

• Uncertainty avoidance

• Achievement vs. nurturing orientation

• Long- vs. short-term orientation

• Work-life balance

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Work-Life Balance in the US

• US has longest average hours of work (just under 2000/yr)

• 70% of US workers worked 40 or more hours a week– 14% in Germany– 8% in Netherlands

• Many industrialized countries put more emphasis on family life and leisure

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Ethics

• Moral principles or values that determine whether actions are right or wrong

• What is the difference between “ethical” and “legal”?

• Many companies define ethical principles and provide training on ethics– Important part of business school curriculum

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Social responsibility

• Moral obligation toward others who are affected by the organization– Stakeholders

– Members of the community

– Employees

• What if the moral obligation conflicts with making money???– What about staying in business?

– How to deal with conflict among interest groups?

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Individual Role in Ethics and Social Responsibility

• Learn about corporate values and ethics• Use values and ethics when making choices about

– Employment

– Investments

– Consumer behavior

• What can you do if your employer asks you to participate in something you feel is unethical?

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For next class

• Topic: Current topics in ethics and social responsibility

• Identify an organization that demonstrates ethics or social responsibility in a way that you value– Websites typically provide relevant information– Be ready to give a brief (1-2 min) presentation

on the company you select