Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Having an Ethical Mindset Might Enhance Workplace Well-Being

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
The Palgrave Handbook of Workplace Well-Being

  • 1878 Accesses

Abstract

Living and working in such a contemporary society that is characterized by the techno-economic ongoing and fragmentary developments; it is no wonder that individuals living in such a society are struggling with issues that might lead them to experience anxiety and stress in their daily lives including the time they spend at their workplaces. Such a psychological status, might be endangering the harmony at the workplace and might in turn have a direct negative impact on those individuals not only on their workplace behaviour and attitude but on their overall well-being. This chapter endeavors to establish a relationship between the existence of “ethical mindset” in an individual and the overall “well-being” of that individual. Thus, this chapter commences with a presentation of a brief background coupled with a literature review on issues relating to “workplace well-being” and “ethical mindset,” its components, and its dimensions. It is worthwhile to note here that the “ethical mindset” was defined through research conducted deriving from two literatures, namely, “spirituality” and “aesthetics.” This literature review leads to the introduction of a brief “case study” demonstrating the impact of having an “ethical mindset” on the “well-being” of an individual who is featured in this case study. The chapter concludes with pleas and appeals to academics and researchers for further research in this area which might assist in the reduction of mental ill health of employees, which might be a result of stress and anxiety in the workplace, which might face any worker no matter what level of seniority they are in or at which industry they work in or from which background they come from.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Antoniou A, Cooper CL (eds) (2013) The psychology of the recession on the workplace. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Google Scholar 

  • Arisian K (1993) Will humanism survive the postmodern era? A preface. humanismtoday.org. http://www.humanismtoday.org/vol8/. 29 July 2005

  • Ashar H, Lane-Maher M (2004) Success and spirituality in the new business paradigm. J Manag Inq 13(3):249–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Badrinarayanan V, Madhavaram S (2013) Workplace spirituality and the selling organization: a conceptual framework and research propositions. J Pers Sell Sales Manag 28(4):421–434. https://doi.org/10.2753/PSS0885-3134280406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baicker K, Cutler D, Song Z (2010) Workplace wellness programs can generate savings. Health Aff (Millwood) 29:304. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0626. The People-to-People Health Foundation

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown N, Rappert B (2017) Contested futures: a sociology of prospective techno-science. Routledge, London. Accessed 26 Feb 2019

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cavanagh G, Hanson B, Hanson K, Hinojoso J (2003) Toward a spirituality for the contemporary organization: implications for work, family, and society. Spiritual intelligence at work: meaning, metaphor, and morals. Research in ethical issues in organizations, 5, pp 111–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen PY, Cooper CL (2014) Introduction: from stress to happiness. In: Chen PY, Cooper CL (eds) Work an wellbeing – wellbeing: a complete reference guide. Volume III. Wiley Blackwell, Hoboken, pp 1–3

    Google Scholar 

  • Csiernik R, Adams DW (2002) Spirituality, stress and work. Empl Assist Q 18(2):29–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Simone S (2014) Conceptualizing wellbeing in the workplace. Int J Bus Soc Sci 5(12):118–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Deluga RJ (1994) Supervision trust building, leader-member exchange and organizational citizenship behaviour. J Occup Organ Psychol 67(4):315–326

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubinsky AJ, Loken B (1989) Analyzing ethical decision making in marketing. J Bus Res 19:83–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferrell OC, Gresham LG (1985) A contingency framework for understanding ethical decision making in marketing. J Mark 49(3):87–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher CD (2014) Conceptualizing and measuring wellbeing at work. In: Chen PY, Cooper CL (eds) Work and wellbeing – wellbeing: a complete reference guide. Volume III. Wiley Blackwell, Hoboken, pp 9–35

    Google Scholar 

  • George LK, Larsons DB, Koeing HG, McCulough ME (2000) Spirituality and health: what we know what we need to know. J Soc Clin Psychol 19(1):102–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghoshal S (2005) Bad management theories are destroying good management practices. Acad Manag Learn Educ 4(1):75–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giacalone RA, Jurkiewicz CL (2003) Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance. M.E. Sharpe, Armonk

    Google Scholar 

  • Gotsis G, Kortezi Z (2007) Philosophical foundations of workplace spirituality: a critical approach. J Bus Ethics 78(4):575–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granitz NA (2003) Individual, social and organizational sources of sharing and variation in the ethical reasoning of managers. J Bus Ethics 42(2):101–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen H, Ropo A, Sauer E (2007) Aesthetic leadership. Leadersh Q 18(6):544–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hicks DA (2003) Workplace: pluralism, spirituality, leadership. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Accessed 12 Mar 2019

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hillier D, Fewell F, Cann W, Shephard V (2009) Wellness at work: enhancing the quality of our working lives. Int Rev Psychiatry 17(5):419–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540260500238363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoijer B, Lidskog R, Uggla Y (2006) Facing dilemmas: sense-making and decision making in late modernity. Futures 38:350–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes EC (1959) Prestige. Ann Am Acad Pol Soc Sci 325(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/000271625932500108

  • Hunt SD, Vitell S (1986) A general theory of marketing ethics. J Macromark 6(1):5–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/027614678600600103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll RE (2003) Spiritual wellness in the workplace. In: Giacalone RA, Jurkiewicz CL (eds) Handbook of workplace spirituality and organizational performance. M.E. Sharpe, Armonk, pp 216–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Issa T (2009) Ethical mindsets, aesthetics and spirituality: a mixed-methods approach analysis of the Australian services sector. School of Management, Curtin Business School, Curtin University of Technology, Available online through URL: http://espace.library.curtin.edu.au/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=131986&local_base=GEN01-ERA02

  • Issa Theodora (2012) An examination of ethical mindsets? role in enhancing the ethical climate in Australian organizations leading to a more sustainable business. An idea for a project. Australian Ethics May 2012: 6–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Issa Theodora (2014) Ethical Mindsets: A Comparative Study, A joint conference ‘GLOGIFT 14’ and the ‘7th ICCB symposium under the theme Flexible Capacity Building in Asia and the Pacific. Singapore, 16th and 17th October 2014. GIFT Society, IIT Delhi, India and Curtin Business School, Curtin University Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • Issa Theodora (2019) Ethical Mindsets: The Case of HongKong Academy of Management Specialized Conference: Responsible Leadership in Rising Economies. Bled, Slovania, October 2019. Academy of Management, USA

    Google Scholar 

  • Issa T (2016) Ethical mindsets: learning from cultural comparisons. In: Sushil, Connell J, Burgess J (eds) Flexible work organizations: the challenges of capacity building in Asia. Springer, New Delhi, p 327

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones TM (1991) Ethical decision making by individuals in organizations: an issue-contingent model. Acad Manag Rev 16(2):366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lane MS, Klenke K (2004) The ambiguity tolerance interface: a modified social cognitive model for leading under uncertainty. J Leadersh Org Stud 10(3):69–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansueto A, Mansueto M (2005) Spirituality and dialectics. Edited by Inc. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Lexington Books, Oxford. Original edition, 2005

    Google Scholar 

  • McGarrigle T, Walsh CA (2011) Mindfulness, self-care, and wellness in social work: effects of contemplative training. J Relig Spiritual Soc Work Soc Thought 30(3):212–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/15426432.2011.587384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quick JC, Quick JD (2004) Healthy, happy, productive work: a leadership challenge. Organ Dyn 33(4):329–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramirez R (2005) The aesthetics of cooperation. Eur Manag Rev 2(1):28–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reave L (2005) Spiritual values and practices related to leadership effectiveness. Leadersh Q 16(5):655–687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rest J (1986) Moral development: advances in research and theory. Praeger, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon DA (1967) Technology and change – the new Heraclitus. Pergamon Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon D (1971a) Beyond the stable state: public and private learning in a changing society, 1st edn. Maurice Temple Smith Ltd., London

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon DA (1971b) Beyond the stable state. The Norton Library. The Norton Library, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon DA (1983) Reflective practitioner – how professionals think in action. Basic Books, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon D (1987a) Educating the reflective practitioner. Tom Russell, Queen’s University, January 1998. Accessed 2 Sept 2005. http://educ.queensu.ca/~ar/schon87.htm

  • Schon D (1987b) Educating the reflective practitioner: toward a new design for teaching and learning in the professions. Jossey-Bass higher education series. Edited by Jossey-Bass. 1st edn. Jossey-Bass, London/San Francisco

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon D (1991) The reflective practitioner: how professionals think in action, 2nd edn. Avebury, Ashgate Publishing, London. Original edition, 1983. Reprint, 1995, 1996

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon D (2001) Chapter 13: The crisis of professional knowledge and the pursuit of an epistemology of practice. Counterpoints 166(2001):183–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon DA (2017) The reflective practitioner: how professionals think in action. Routledge, London. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781351883160. Accessed 11 Mar 2019

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Schon DA, Rein M (1994) Frame reflection: toward the resolution of intractable policy controversies. Basic Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Schon DA, Sanyal B, Mitchell WJ (eds) (1999) High technology and low-income communities – prospects for the positive use of advanced information technology. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Schonemann PH (1990) Facts, fictions, and common-sense about factors and components. Multivar Behav Res 25(1):148–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tateosian LG (2005) Characterizing aesthetic visualizations. 2009, PhD preliminary oral exam report, Knowledge Discovery Lab, Department of Computer Science, North Carolina State University

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SS, Hansen H (2005) Finding form: looking at the field of organizational aesthetics. J Manag Stud 42(6):1211–1231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilghman BR (2004) Reflections on aesthetic judgement. Br J Aesthet 44(3):248–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trevino LK (1986) Ethical decision making in organizations: a person-situation interactionist model. Acad Manag Rev 11(3):601–617. https://doi.org/10.2307/258313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weick KE (1999) Theory construction as disciplined reflexivity: tradeoffs in the 90s. Acad Manag Rev 24(4):797–806

    Google Scholar 

  • Weick KE, Quinn RE (1999) Organizational change and development. Annu Rev Psychol 50:361–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White DA (1996) ‘It’s working beautifully!’ philosophical reflections on aesthetics and organization theory. Organization 3(2):195–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Business and Law, School of Management, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Theodora Issa

Authors
  1. Theodora Issa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Theodora Issa .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Woodbury University, Burbank, CA, USA

    Satinder K. Dhiman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Issa, T. (2021). Having an Ethical Mindset Might Enhance Workplace Well-Being. In: Dhiman, S.K. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Workplace Well-Being. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30025-8_58

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation