Employees' knowledge, attitudes and experience of ethics : a case study in the Ilembe Health District.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
This study was conducted within the Ilembe Health District which is situated within Kwa
Zulu-Natal, South Africa. A lack of ethical behaviour and recent scandals involving
employees of the district which included assaulting each other, insulting patients because of
their HIV status and instructing a mother to carry her dead baby home three kilometres away
within an hour of delivery. These appalling scandals have created an interest in ethics. This
research project was necessary as episodes of unethical behaviour have increased and are
disconcerting. The objects of the research were to assess the knowledge and attitude of
employees toward ethics, identify barriers related to employees behaving in an ethical
manner and to determine current ethical stance amongst employees and understand employee
perception on whistle-blowing. A quantitative cross sectional case study design involving a
survey was applied for this study. Questionnaires were administered to employees at their
workplace over a period of two weeks. Respondents were requested to rate the items that they
believed contributed to unethical behaviour using a four point Likert-scale measurement tool.
Attached to the questionnaire was a consent form was stating that the participants’ details
were confidential and that they may withdraw from the survey at any time. The quantitative
data was analysed by a statistician using the SPSS statistical procedures. The analysed data
was utilised to interpret the participants’ views in relation to knowledge of and attitudes
towards ethics. More than 80% of the respondents had more than 5 years of service, with
nearly a quarter (24.0%) having more than 20 years’ service. This was a useful statistic as it
indicated that the respondents had a fair amount of experience and would have responded
from an experienced viewpoint. A quarter (25.3%) of the respondents felt that whistle
blowing does not curb unethical behaviour and just over one quarter (27.7%) of the
respondents felt that whistle-blowers should not be protected. More than 80% of the
respondents felt that ethical conduct should be made a key performance area.
Description
MPA University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.
Keywords
Employees--Attitudes., Business ethics., Theses--Public administration.