According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 10th Edition c. 1998, ethics is the “discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.” It is also “a guiding philosophy.” So, we could say that ethics is from the head—it is a code of expected behavior. But is there one set of universal values that transcends age, race, gender, socioeconomic status? The answer is a resounding “YES” and this fact is backed up and documented by numerous surveys and studies by The Institute for Global Ethics (ISG).

The problem in America is that we’ve become brainwashed by statements like, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion” or “what they believe isn’t what I believe, but as long as they feel good about it, then it’s OK for them.” What’s the result? The result is that we no longer believe we have the right or duty to teach the common ethical standards of behavior. I disagree. I believe we not only can but should teach ethics to our children and in our schools, and that every business has an obligation to operate ethically in all cases.

Let me share with you six universal ethical values (taken from Ethics at Work, Pictorial, 1997). Keep in mind, none of us is perfect, but we can all try to live by these values. The key is to be aware of the values and strive to hold your life up against these “standard bearers.”

• Honesty—This is the cornerstone of ethical behavior. It means telling the entire truth; always being candid and trustworthy; making sure everyone receives everything they’re entitled to, and not accepting anything you are not entitled to.
• Integrity—Means doing the right thing regardless of the consequences. People who have integrity are basically incorruptible.
• Responsibility—Fulfilling your obligations to others. For example, clients rely on their agent to determine the appropriate insurance coverage, obtain that coverage at the best price, and interpret policies to ensure covered claims are paid.
• Respect and Caring for Others—Simply means treating clients, co-workers, friends, claimants—in fact, everyone with whom you come into contact—with courtesy and dignity. It is the platinum rule, “Do unto others as they would you do unto them.”
• Promise-Keeping, Trustworthiness, and Fairness—These values enable others count on you at all times.
• Courage—It takes courage to be ethical. In the short term, there may even be a price to pay. But in the long run, it always pays to do the right thing.

Lord Moulton, a British lawmaker in the 19th century, described ethics as obedience to the unenforceable. Rushworth Kidder, president of the Institute for Global Ethics, pointed out that laws result from the breakdown of ethics. Laws reflect the minimum standard of behavior and only address those areas so heinous they create havoc in a society. Think about it, would we need a single law if everyone acted with honesty, integrity, and responsibility, always respecting and caring for others, keeping every promise they ever made and acting with fairness and trustworthiness?

So, what sort of world do you want to live in? One where people just obey the law, or one where people are obedient to the unenforceable—honesty, integrity, responsibility, respect and caring for others, and courage?

Please note: These materials are available for use by CPCU Society members only. All nonmember use is strictly prohibited without the written approval from the CPCU Society. Please contact Jennifer Polachek for further information.