Integrity in Work and Interpersonal Relations: A Perspective for the Public Manager

An analysis was made, based on personal experiences of everyday activities in public agencies, that provided a basis for developing criteria for evaluating a manager and for making recommendations concerning creation of an ethically supportive work environment. The criteria included: 1. scrupulousness, 2. impartiality, 3. openness, and 4. responsiveness. In creating the kind of atmosphere that encourages ethically appropriate conduct by subordinates, a manager must be genuinely interested in the subordinates' responses to his decisions and to the agency priorities as they are handed down by management. Placing ethical concerns as a normal part of union priorities calls for creative implementation, which may include training programs, 'refresher' sessions, and the like. To maintain an ethical environment, management must provide continuing support and participation. The manager must also back up his commitment to a healthy ethical atmosphere with promotions and rewards.