Corruption, Corruption, Corruption, seems to be the topic in the air these days. Everywhere you turn there is a talk about it. You listen to the radio, or listen to the newscasts on the television, and you can hear about it happening either regionally, internationally and even locally. So the time has come for us to look at the word and its meaning closely so as to determine if it is really happening around us.
According to the Concise Dictionary, corruption is the act of corrupting or state of being corrupt. So let us look at a few definitions of different forms of corruption:
Bribery: Taking money to give people preferential treatment.
Embezzlement: Stealing money or resources that are supposed to be under your control.
Fraud: Making false claims for benefits.
Extortion: When a public official forces someone to give him/her benefits in exchange for acting/ not acting in a particular way.
Abuse of power: Using one’s power or position of authority to improperly benefit or discriminate against another person.
Abuse of privileged information: Using information you have access to, because of your job, to benefit someone who can make money from it.
Favouritism: Unfairly providing services or resources to friends.
Nepotism: Giving jobs or services unfairly to family members.
In your opinion, can you say any of those are happening amongst us? If so, which ones? Where are they occurring? What can you do about it? According to research, it is said that as far back as jobs have existed corruption has occurred. Do you agree? Research findings claim that the most common forms in the workplace are favouritism and selective enforcement of the rules. They further state that corruption can also cause tension among employees and can greatly reduce the effectiveness of teamwork. It affects one’s pay, promotion, and overall feeling of loyalty towards his/her employer. They go on to state that while it is not an easy problem to solve, it is one that can be reduced.
If you are interested in helping to stamp out corruption in your life, or that of the workplace, it is important that you learn how to test your principles for making moral or making ethical choices.
The Book: Developing Management Skills: 5th Edition, by Whetten and Cameron, provides the following tests that can serve as standards against which to test any decision or actions you may take in your work or life in general:
Front-page test: Would you be embarrassed if your decision became a story in the local newspaper?
Golden rule test: Would you be willing to be treated in the same manner?
Dignity and liberty test: Are the dignity and liberty of others preserved by your decision or action?
Equal treatment test: Are the rights of all staff, no matter their position, race, gender, sexual orientation and religion, given full consideration?
Personal gain test: Is the opportunity for personal gain clouding your judgement? Would you make the same decision if the outcome did not benefit you in anyway?
Congruence test: Is the decision or action consistent with your personal principles? Does it violate the spirit of any departmental policies or laws?
Procedural justice test: Can the procedures used to make this decision stand up to scrutiny by those affected?
Cost-benefit test: Does a benefit for some cause unacceptable harm to others? Can the harmful effects be mitigated?
Good night’s sleep test: Whether or not anyone else knows about your action, will you have a good night’s sleep?
Corruption is worse than prostitution. The latter might endanger the morals of an individual, the former invariably endangers the morals of the entire country–Karl Kraus
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. Referrals can also be made directly through the Atlantic Star Center of Medical Excellence, South Hill, Anguilla. By Appointment Only: Tel 497-0765
