Work Ethics

Lesson 1 - Why Work Ethic?A brief lesson about why work ethic is so important in the information age workplace and why it will continue to be important in the future.

It is a new day in the workplace, but the old saying that "what goes around, comes around" has been proven true again. Now as much as ever before it is important for workers to have a good work ethic. Without it, businesses and industries struggle as productivity falls short of what is needed. Employers especially dislike hiring people who would choose to prop up their feet rather than find something to do.
Hasn't a good work ethic always been important, though? The answer is yes, but during a period of history we refer to as the industrial age, many jobs required a work ethic that was limited and somewhat different from the characteristics necessary in today's information age workplace. People who work with information often must set their own schedule, usually work with less direct supervision, and frequently experience change and innovation in their work.

What is an information age job?Consider the following occupations. Click on items in the list that are information jobs?
teacher
computer salesperson
construction worker
machine operator
engineer
movie actor
doctor
truck driver
politician
apartment manager
accountant
custodian
Even the jobs which are not now classified as information jobs are continuing to change in that direction. As technology advances and manual operations are replaced by machines, people increasingly must deal with the information necessary to provide instructions to a machine which in turn actually performs a task.


Lesson 2 - What is Work Ethic?
A lesson that defines work ethic and includes information about important worker characteristics that employers are seeking.

Definition
The work ethic is a cultural norm that advocates being personally accountable and responsible for the work that one does and is based on a belief that work has intrinsic value. The term is often applied to characteristics of people, both at work and at play. In sports, for example, work ethic is frequently mentioned as a characteristic of good players. Regardless of the context, work ethic is usually associated with people who work hard and do a good job.
Research has shown that the many characteristics of work ethic can be summarized using three terms -- interpersonal skills, initiative, and being dependable. These terms serve to organize the instructional materials presented by this web site. They also can provide a concise way to remember what work ethic is all about.
How is your work ethic?
An instrument that has been developed to measure work ethic is the Occupational Work Ethic Inventory (OWEI). This instrument has been used extensively in research and the electronic version is available to provide a basis for comparing your work ethic to that of others. The inventory provides scores for interpersonal skills, initiative, and being dependable will allow you to determine how you rate on these important areas.



Lesson 3 - Interpersonal Skills
Examines the role of interpersonal skills as an aspect of work ethic, emphasizes its importance in the workplace, and helps learners to develop strategies for improving interpersonal skills.

Introduction
Interpersonal skills include the habits, attitudes, manners, appearance, and behaviors we use around other people which affect how we get along with other people. We sometimes do not understand how important interpersonal skills really are. It's easy to laugh and make jokes about people who obviously lack interpersonal skills, but sometimes we need to examine our own impressions on others to better prepare for success in life as well as for a productive career.
The development of interpersonal skills begins early in life and is influenced by family, friends, and our observations of the world around us. Television and movies also influence this area, but most of these characteristics are passed along to us by our parents or guardians. Some aspects of interpersonal skills are even inherited. Appearance and some personality traits are largely influenced by our genes. For us to improve our interpersonal skills, we must first be aware of what we are like from the perspective of other people who interact with us. Habits we are unaware of, actions we think go unnoticed, and other things about us that might affect other people are impossible for us to change if we are not aware of them. One of the things that teachers try to do, starting in the early grades, is to help students correct bad habits and to develop good interpersonal skills.
As we become adults, it increasingly becomes our own responsibility to initiate any changes in interpersonal skills that might be needed. They are more important than ever and they greatly influence both opportunities and success. It's just that rather than trying to change interpersonal skills, as is the case when we are children, adults tend to make judgements about one another based on interpersonal skills without explicitly saying that is the case.

Lesson 4 - Initiative
Explains initiative as a part of work ethic, helps learners to evaluate their own initiative, and encourages them to use initiative in appropriate and productive ways.

Introduction
Initiative is a very important characteristic for information age workers. Direct supervision is often not a feature of the modern workplace. Without initiative, procrastination and missed opportunities can become a real problem. Sometimes poor performance results and leads to loss of a job, without any second chances.
Consider the salesperson who works out of a home office or the small business owner who works out of the house. If these people do not exercise initiative, there will probably not be anyone to say anything about it. As performance declines, however, the results will reflect what has been happening with the job.

Lesson 5 - Being Dependable
Emphasizes the importance of being dependable and helps learners to identify areas for improving personal dependability.

Introduction
Being dependable is one of the most highly sought after traits for workers in the modern workplace. This work ethic construct includes honesty, reliability, and being on time. People who are not dependable often are very expensive to keep around because of the wasted time and resources their behavior causes. In some cases, even peoples' lives can be lost if another person is not dependable.

Lesson 6 - Other Employability Skills
Other employability skills related to work ethic are considered in this lesson along with activities to prepare people for success in the information age workplace.

Introduction
Three primary components of work ethic have been identified as interpersonal skills, initiative, and dependability. This lesson will focus on specific employability skills and personal characteristics which are drawn from all three work ethic components. Some of these are very practical like learning to prepare a resume. Others are more difficult to describe or develop like not being overly shy, looking people in the eye when talking with them, and proper ways to greet someone you meet. Learning about these types of skills and practicing them are certain to enhance your ability to seek, secure, and be successful on the job!
Think for a moment about the steps necessary when you start a new job; filling out an application, going for your first interview, and spending your first day on the job. This will have already happened for some people, but for others it is on the horizon. Think about your answers to the following questions: How do you decide where you would like to work? When, where, and how should you pick up the application? Do you fill it out there or should you take it with you? How do you schedule your first interview? What was expected of you at the interview? What types of skills are employers looking for? How should you present yourself? What is the first day of work like? What should you do if the job is not what you expected? How do interpersonal skills, initiative, and dependability skills influence success in the work you do now or the work you will do in the future?
Many employers have been asked over the years to list the most important skills and characteristics they look for when hiring new employees. Among the more common answers are good communication skills, positive attitude, and the ability to be dependable, punctual, and responsible. Personal characteristics which are important include dressing properly, being polite, and displaying self-confidence.

Occupational Work Ethics Inventory

Your interpersonal score is 6.25 out of 7
Your initiative score is 5.19 out of 7 (Low)
Your dependability total is 5.71 out of 7 (Low)