Ethics-Unit-II-Nature-of-Work PDF

Unit II Nature of Work Learning Objectives After learning this module, the students should be able to: 1. Realize the meaning of Work. 2. Analyze the perception of work 3. Examine the Factors that affect the work 4. Acquire knowledge about personality types...

Unit II Nature of Work Learning Objectives After learning this module, the students should be able to: 1. Realize the meaning of Work. 2. Analyze the perception of work 3. Examine the Factors that affect the work 4. Acquire knowledge about personality types of workers Lesson 2 - Meaning of Work Work basically entails conscious and sustained physical or mental efforts to do. Usually, it is performed for remuneration, that is, as a means of livelihood. Work is sometimes understood as employment, occupation or profession. Employment implies work for which one has been hired and is being paid by an employer. Employment Agency a private firm serves an intermediaries for hiring an employee in a contractual basis, It seeks employee for employer. Employee is formal term for employed worker. Employer is person, private or public who employed worker. Types of Work Occupation if work is the result of training and performed on a regular basis. Laborer A worker who is paid in exchange primarily for his physical labor. Profession is a form of occupation which makes use of a specialized type of work. The History of Work The advancement in agriculture and improvement in metallurgy paved the way for the significant changes in the nature of early societies and the nature of work. The introduction of powerful machines and the expansion of markets led to greater specialization and efficiency in work, and to the multiplication and division of labor. Machineries, as instruments of production, enhanced man’s capacity of work, allowing him to produce goods in quantities never before thought possible. From these new conditions, two social classes emerged, engulfing the remnants of all previous class structure. Two Major Classes Best known in political science and economics. 1. Working Class - this are the workers or paid laborers. 7 2. Ruling Class - this are the capitalist businessmen, i.e., employers. Lesson 2 - Perceptions of Work Different accounts have been advanced at various times to describe the nature and purpose of work vis-à-vis the continued existence of man and society. A select number are presented here. Different Perceptions of work 1. Work as Divine Punishment In early Christian tradition, work was regarded as punishment by God to human beings for their pride and disobedience. Work then was perceived as punishment, a curse which man was fated to suffer. Later, the Church enunciated a more benevolent perception of work. Rather than regarding it as a form of punishment, work began to perceived as a form of praying, a way of fulfilling one’s duty to God or a means of salvation. Protestantism, most notably Calvinist view, the value attached to hard work, thrift and efficiency in one’s worldly calling is eternal salvation. Hard work, together with faith in a benevolent God expresses the Filipino formula for worldly success: “Nasa tao ang gawa, nasa Diyos ang awa”. 2. Work as a Right Work is perceived as a matter of right. Everyone has the right to work based on man’s natural right to self-preservation. To preserve one’s life requires one to have a right over the means with which to satisfy his basic needs for food, clothing and shelter. And since man derives his subsistence from his work, his right to preserve his life necessitates his right to work. This perception of work is best reflected I our Constitution, the fundamental law of our land. The right of a person to his labor is deemed a property within the meaning of Constitutional guarantees (De Leon, 1991). And no one can be deprived of his property without due process of law (Art. III, Sec. 1). 3. Work as a Determinant of Personal Qualities Work is also perceived today for its social significance in defining a person. The quality of a worker is reflected by the quality of his work. Well-organized work and work done on schedule imply a reliable, disciplined and conscientious worker. As personal goodness is measured by how a person does his work, society comes to admire workers who do their jobs with utmost prudence, skill and dedication 4. Work as a Determinant of Social Class Work defines the social status of people. Modern political and economic theorists, most notably Karl Marx, classify people into two classes, each identifiable by the general nature of their work. Those who sell their physical labor for wages in order to live belong to the working class, the proletarian- they are called laborers or proletariats. Those who manage the business, or control the activity of the firm are called capitalist or bourgeoisies. The evolution of work from labor extended into knowledge and seems to have created another class of workers called knowledge workers. 8 5. Work as a Basis for Cooperation Workers work not only to survive but also to prosper materially. Businessmen, do business primarily for profit. They employ workers because they cannot run the business alone. Workers, in turn, offer their services because they lack capital. In such a relationship, workers need businessmen just as businessmen need the workers- if one does not prosper, none of them will. Hence, the social and economic nature of work implies that it can be a basis for cooperation between two different people belonging to two different social classes, each pursuing different interests for working. Lesson 3 - Factors that Affect Work Certain factors regulate the conduct of work. These are the important in promoting and maintaining work of quality for the benefit of society at large. They include: 1. Personal and Societal Values A worker enters the world of work equipped with certain values. The nature of his values determines how he performs his work and guides his actions. Much of his personal values are derived from the society he moves around in. the value system that a worker upholds actions determines his perception towards work, the types of decisions he makes and the actions he performs in relation to his duties and obligations as a worker. As such, personal and societal values are effective for the regulation of work. 2. Code of Ethics Codes of Ethics help ensure development of workers and professionals who are not only competent in their respective work and professions, but also as persons who work with a sense of morality and decency. 3. Law the law sets standards of how work is to be done. The law regulates work as it imposes certain limitations to workers. Violating these limitations may lead a person to be criminally or legally liable, risking his employment or profession, his freedom, even his limbs. For the professional worker, his education does not excuse him from his duty to observe the limitations imposed by law- rather, it makes his legal responsibility greater. 4. Professional Associations The promotion of higher standards for the practice of professional work is the main reason why professional societies are formed. Thus, medical associations are formed to preserve and enforce higher standards of medical practice, and legal associations are for setting higher standards of legal practice. The moment a person becomes a professional and is accepted into a professional association, he is bound to comply with the rules and regulations, and assumes all the duties and obligations of the association as stipulated in the association’s constitution and by-laws. He is morally and legally obliged to perform his craft with skill and competence. 9 5. Policies Enforced in the Workplace Policies do not only law down rules and regulations; they also express a set of expectations from workers. The company expects the best from its workers, and provides them with principles to guide them in the conduct of their work. The company strictly enforces rules and regulations which workers are duty bound to observe and respect; otherwise, they can be suspended or dismissed from employment. Policies and their enforcement help guarantee quality output from workers. 6. Public Opinion and Perception A worker who not only has the skill, but is equally blessed with a sense of morality, good public relations and dedication is well-loved and respected by the people. He wins the patronage of more customers and the trust and comfort of more clients, compared to a worker who may have excellent skills but lacks the necessary manners, moral behavior, warmth or good public relations. Public perception helps maintain the quality of work, as workers and employers try to protect their positive image by being friendlier and by working harder and better. 7. Religion Plays an important role in the development of values that determine how a believer perceives the purpose and meaning of work. Religious beliefs of workers exert considerable effect on how well they perform their work. People who possess religious values tend to work honestly and diligently. They tend to be more respectful of others, especially their employers and clients tend to be more obedient to law and authority the perception that work is an act of service to God makes a whole lot of difference, most especially in the quality of a person’s work. Interest, Work and Working Successful workers are those who are interested in the work they perform. It is important that we enjoy what we do, what we were trained to do, once we are in the world of work. If our sole criterion in choosing an occupation is monetary, in all probability, we will be prone to frustration and disappointment. Work has its own rewards. It is the satisfaction we gain in performing work. We should assess our interests and engage in the training of an occupation we truly believe to be in line with our interests and talents. Lesson 4 – Personality Types of Workers Prof. John Holland developed a format for determining interests. Holland believes that one way of looking at occupations is to measure them in terms of data, people, things and ideas. Prof. Holland classified workers into six personality types: 10 1. Realistic (R)-realistic people like working with things, in occupation such as chefs, air traffic controllers, carpenters and builders. INTERESTS SKILLS PERSONALITY Work with machines Fix mechanical objects Mechanical Work outdoors Plant a garden Nature lover Work with hands Operate machinery Practical Build things Read a blueprint Problem solver 2. Investigative (I)-investigative people like working with data, in occupations such as medical technician, computer programmer, engineering and science. INTERESTS SKILLS PERSONALITY Explore ideas Do science experiments Inquisitive Analyze data Solve math problems Precise Use computers Perform basic programming Abstract thinker Read science fiction Interpret formulas Independent 3. Artistic (A)-artistic people like working with ideas, in occupations such as commercial artist, musician and interior designer. INTERESTS SKILLS PERSONALITY Read fiction plays Write stories Imaginative Work on crafts Design new things Innovative Act, sing, listen to music Play or compose music Creative Take photographs Sketch, draw or paint Intuitive 4. Social (S)-social people like working with people, in occupations such as teaching, counselling and caring for elderly people. INTERESTS SKILLS PERSONALITY Help people Teach/train others Helpful Do volunteer work Plan activities Outgoing Play team sports Host an event Insightful Work in groups Lead meetings Friendly 11 5. Enterprising (E)-enterprising people like working with people and data, in occupations such as business leadership, marketing, entrepreneurship and politics. INTERESTS SKILLS PERSONALITY Meet people Initiate projects Assertive Make decisions that affect Sell or promote Persuasive others Negotiate sales/deals Make speeches Enthusiastic Participate in political Convince others Persistent activities 6. Conventional (C)-conventional people like working with data, in such occupations as accounting, administrative assistance and paralegal assistance. INTERESTS SKILLS PERSONALITY Work with numbers Keep accurate records Organized Eye for detail Statistical work Mathematical I earn computer programs Operate computers Efficient Follow directions Write business letters Conscientious Holland’s Self-Assessment Test Please answer yes or no 1. I like long-term projects. 2. I like to build or repair things. 3. I like to do things in order. 4. I enjoy doing things that produce results. 5. I like to organize activities. 6. I’d like to deal with people all day. 7. I need to clear and precise instructions. 8. I’m interested in operating machinery 9. I like math. 10. I’d like to be able to control the work of others. 11. I like helping people. 12. I read books or watch TV to find out about things. 13. I’d like to discover something new. 14. I like to get people to do things. 15. I like to ask people their opinion. 12 Assessment Instructions: Answer the questions below with the following specifications: (1) typewritten, using a bond paper size 8.5”x11”; (2) use Arial as font style; (3) font size 11; (4) use single spacing and double spacing between paragraph;(5) justify; (6) use default margins (7) Print. 1. Explain the meaning of work and relate to current situation in the society 2. Differentiate and explain the types of work and give an example 3. What is the value of machineries for workers, explain and give an example 4. Explain at least two perception of work and give an example 5. Explain the different factors affecting work and give an example 6. What is the value interest in work? Explain and give an example 7. Explain one type of personality of worker in which you believe where you belong and why? Justify your answer 13