Introduction
Ethical dilemmas occur in many areas of life, and industrial-organizational (I-O) specialists are among the professionals who must resolve moral predicaments. The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) is one of the primary institutions educating I-O consultants about virtuous behavior (Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology [SIOP], n.d.). While not having its own ethical standards, SIOP states that all its members should adhere to the practices established by the American Psychological Association (APA) (SIOP, n.d.). The most recent set of moral directions adopted by APA provides guidance for psychologists operating in different areas, including organizational consulting and administration (American Psychological Association [APA], 2017). SIOP and APA suggest ethical practices that I-O specialists can utilize not only to conduct themselves but also to instruct their colleagues and ponder questions concerning potential dilemmas.
Piece of Advice
Upon reviewing information shared by APA and SIOP, one can assist novice professionals in handling moral predicaments. The most important advice I would give to a new I-O consultant is never to avoid making righteous decisions within their expertise. SIOP (n.d.) notes that a choice regarding an ethical issue must always be made. Based on such a remark, one can assume that a specialist may be inclined to avoid or disregard resolving a challenging dilemma.
Nonetheless, APA (2017) suggests that all psychologists have a professional responsibility to address moral problems. First, I-O experts may neglect such issues by believing that ethics is not a significant concern in I-O psychology (Lefkowitz, 2021). However, I-O specialists will likely encounter diverse predicaments that must be resolved (APA, 2017; Lefkowitz, 2021).
Second, I-O consultants may sidestep making moral decisions because such choices are complicated and entangle competing concerns (Banks et al., 2022). Nevertheless, APA (2017) states that its ethical standards cover most situations faced by psychologists. Therefore, the most important recommendation for a new I-O specialist is never to avoid resolving moral dilemmas, which can be addressed by following APA’s guidance.
Ethical Question
Furthermore, ethical practices provided by APA and SIOP make one think of potential predicaments. An ethical question I would like to ask a seasoned I-O consultant is how to act if a victim of workplace harassment is requesting that the offender, who is a valuable employee, be fired. Adding some detail, I would elaborate on the perpetrator being in such an influential senior position that letting him go would lead to the company’s unrest, with many staff members losing their paychecks.
When the firm’s executives ask for advice, should an I-O specialist advocate for the victim or support other employees whose wages depend on the offender completing their tasks? Such a question is essential to consider in the I-O psychology field, as harassment and seniority issues appear to be among the moral concerns encountered in the I-O domain (Banks et al., 2022; Lefkowitz, 2021). Although it seems right to protect the victim first, APA (2017) suggests that psychologists should not harm their organizational clients. Consequently, it would be insightful to learn from an experienced I-O consultant which position to take.
Conclusion
To summarize, the ethical practices provided by APA and SIOP can be used to instruct new I-O specialists and raise questions about potential dilemmas faced by seasoned professionals. For instance, a novice consultant can be advised that they must always decide a moral predicament within their expertise, regardless of how difficult that choice may be. In addressing the problem, the professional should refer to the APA’s ethical standards, which provide guidance for many situations. On the other hand, it would be insightful to ask an experienced I-O expert whether it would be better to support a victim of harassment or other employees who may suffer by losing their senior. Overall, SIOP and APA indicate the significance of acting honorably in the field of I-O psychology.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct. APA.
Banks, G. C., Knapp, D. J., Lin, L., Sanders, C. S., & Grand, J. A. (2022). Ethical decision making in the 21st century: A useful framework for industrial-organizational psychologists. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 15(2), 220-235.
Lefkowitz, J. (2021). Forms of ethical dilemmas in industrial-organizational psychology. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 14(3), 297-319.
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. (n.d.). Professional ethics: Committee for the Advancement of Professional Ethics (CAPE). SIOP.