Discuss when and how to raise concerns when issues such as organisational policies or leadership approaches conflict

5. Discuss when and how to raise concerns when issues such as organisational policies or leadership approaches conflict with ethical values or legislation. (AC 1.4)

There are a few different ways that you might find yourself in conflict with ethical values. Maybe you’re working for a company whose practices don’t align with your personal ethics, or maybe you’re in a situation where following the law would go against your conscience. In any case, it’s important to know how to handle these situations in a way that respects both your ethical standards and the standards of the institution you’re working within.

One thing to keep in mind is that there is a difference between an ethical value and a legal requirement. Just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s necessarily ethical, and vice versa. For example, abortion is legal in many countries but remains highly controversial from an ethical standpoint. So when raising a conflict with ethical values, it’s important to be clear about which set of standards you’re referring to.

If you find yourself in conflict with ethical values, the first thing you should do is try to resolve the issue internally. This might mean talking to your supervisor or HR department. If you’re not able to resolve the issue internally, then you can take it to an external body such as a professional regulator or the police.

However, it’s important to remember that you may not always be able to take action against someone who is violating your ethical values. Sometimes the best you can do is to avoid working with them in the future.