Post 3 Blog 3

Finding a medium in communication ethics can be very difficult. The idea of being on the same page as the rest of the world can be a very nerve racking and misunderstanding. Contemplation of who feels the same way as you, why we need to be on the same page, or even knowing if you have offended someone in a speech or activity you have done in public may give us all anxiety. In our class text, "Communication Ethics Literacy" we are given some light on this common issue. The book does a very good job at pointing out the simple things to understand. Communication must have a set of bylaws we should follow to clear up any confusion. Even more it gives us a code of ethics that Ronald Arnett and his cohorts have constructed.

The main idea I pulled from our text chapter 3 on approaches to communication ethics was, the ideas of having some type of uniform code to address ethics by as a world/human. One major thing most people in the field would suggest is that we must show respect for all as we communicate and learn to not push one certain group out of conversation or learning. In our text we are given the idea that there is a code of ethics, "procedures and standards in communication ethics."(Arnett, 50) In feel this idea best fits my life for a few major reasons. First being I have been in a restaurant industry ever since I started working almost eighteen years ago. Second being that I feel there needs to be rules in place in order to make something feel right morally as well as ethically. Meaning we live in an at will employment state so if we are always worried in the service industry that we will be let go for something. I know at my work we have a manual and we as managers have a policy that we must adhere to if we would like to address a situation. while having a code or honor system at work we are able to hold people accountable for what they are doing.

As an at-will state we are able to "terminate for any reason." As it stands we are still as managers required to give explanation or reasoning for termination. If managers set codes around choices that are "ethically correct," then it becomes very hard to argue a case with management and wrongful termination. I have been faced with this situation a number of times. It is so much easier to address someone while referring back to the manual that is already in place. At this point explanation is not even in question if they are let go for a reason that our whole staff must abide by. Ethics are best understood when we use "law" or a "set of rules" to abide by formed by a greater community in the specific area we set the laws. 

Below this is a link giving us a better idea about law on at-will.

https://www.dli.mn.gov/LS/Termination.asp

Work Cited

https://www.dli.mn.gov/LS/Termination.asp

Arnett, R.C., Harden Fritz, J. M, & Bell, L. M. (2009). Communication ethics literacy: Dialogue and difference. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.