When faced with an ethical dilemma, a person is faced with having to select an option that doesn’t align with an established code of ethics or societal norms, such as codes of law and religious teachings, or with their internal moral perceptions of right and wrong.

When addressing something as complicated as an ethical dilemma, remember that you should consider things very carefully before taking any drastic action. Make sure that you’re aware of all sides of the story, and confide in people close to you for their advice and opinions.

The following are examples of a few of the most common personal ethics shared by many professionals:

• Honesty. Many people view honesty as an important ethic.
• Loyalty. Loyalty is another common personal ethic that many professionals share.
• Integrity.
• Respect.
• Selflessness.
• Responsibility.

Ethical issues occur when a given decision, scenario or activity creates a conflict with a society’s moral principles. Ethical issues are challenging because they are difficult to deal with if no guidelines or precedents are known.

Racial discrimination, sexual harassment, wage inequality – these are all costly ethical issues that employers and employees encounter on a daily basis across the country.

Police ethics are the rules for behavior that guide law enforcement officials based on what society deems as right and wrong. For police officials, ethical standards further include values such as integrity, courage and allegiance.

There are mistakes, inevitably, and the human tendency to deny them or cover them up, which makes change very difficult. Moral sensitivity is reduced. Ethical problems are not apparent, as they are often masked under technical considerations, which are the dominant force.