Business Ethics:
For The Office
In today’s workplace, ethical dilemmas don’t just live in textbooks, they show up in everyday decisions. From small choices (like how to handle confidential information) to bigger challenges (like dealing with clients or co-workers who push boundaries), ethics defines trust, reputation, and long-term success.
This two-day workshop helps participants explore the principles of ethics in a practical, down-to-earth way. Through case studies, role plays, and decision-making tools, they’ll build the skills to recognise ethical challenges, respond confidently, and develop a code of ethics that strengthens the entire workplace.
What They’ll Learn:
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the difference between ethics and morals and why both matter in business
- Use proven decision-making tools to navigate complex situations
- Recognise common pitfalls and excuses that lead to poor choices
- Deal with ethical dilemmas involving co-workers, supervisors, clients, and company policy
- Develop an office code of ethics that promotes integrity and accountability
- Apply practical frameworks such as Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, the Johari Window, and Nan DeMars’ 22 Keys to an Ethical Office
Course Details
Prerequisites
None
Duration
1 Day
Type
- Face-to-face at ExecuTrain or on client premises
- Hybrid
- Online via Teams
Course Outline:
Introduction & Course Overview
The workshop opens with introductions and an outline of what will take place. Participants will also have the opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.
What Is Ethics?
We begin by defining the terms “ethics” and “morals.” Participants will reflect on their personal values and how these influence decisions.
Pitfalls and Excuses
An exploration of the most common justifications for poor decisions, and how to challenge them.
Why Bother with Ethics?
This session explores the benefits of ethical behaviour, from stronger trust to better business outcomes.
Kohlberg’s Six Stages
An introduction to Kohlberg’s six stages of moral development, with a group exercise to apply the theory to real-world scenarios.
Objective Ways of Looking at the World
We will explore classic philosophical approaches such as the Golden Rule, utilitarianism, and the categorical imperative, applying them to practical case studies.
What Does “Ethical” Mean?
We’ll unpack how perspectives shape ethical decisions, illustrated with the Merck Pharmaceuticals case study.
Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas
Practical methods for sidestepping dilemmas before they arise, reinforced through a case study exercise.
Pitfalls and Excuses
An exploration of the most common justifications for poor decisions – and how to challenge them.
Developing an Office Code of Ethics
This session covers what a code of ethics should include, how to assess readiness, and examples of effective codes.
22 Keys to an Ethical Office
Drawing on Nan DeMars’ 22 keys, participants will learn practical ways to embed ethics into everyday office life.
Basic Decision-Making Tools
An introduction to a simple three-phase problem-solving model and core decision-making tools.
Ethical Decision-Making Tools
Beyond the basics: we’ll cover the “smell test,” the “shoe test,” and advanced models such as the Potter Box and Kidder process.
Dilemmas with Company Policy
When company policy itself creates an ethical bind, what do you do? This session explores practical approaches.
Dilemmas with Co-Workers
Case studies and discussions on how colleagues can create ethical challenges — and strategies for addressing them constructively.
Dilemmas with Clients
An exploration of why clients sometimes ask for unethical actions, with role plays to practise real-world responses.
Dilemmas with Supervisors
We’ll address the ethical challenges supervisors face, as well as those they may inadvertently create for their teams.
What to Do When You Make a Mistake
Everyone makes mistakes. This session introduces Nan DeMars’ six-step plan for acknowledging and recovering from errors gracefully.
Taking Your Moral Temperature – Part Two
Participants will revisit their initial responses to ethical scenarios and re-evaluate them in light of everything learned.
Workshop Wrap-Up
To close, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and complete an action plan for applying their learning back at work.
Why It Matters.
A single unethical decision can cost an organisation its reputation – and repairing trust is far harder than building it in the first place. Ethical workplaces are more resilient, more respected, and more sustainable. This course doesn’t just teach theory; it equips teams with the skills and confidence to do the right thing, even when it’s the harder choice.
Send your team on training they’ll actually remember and give them the tools to turn ethical challenges into confident, constructive decisions.
