What does ethics mean in human resource management (HRM)? In this paper, based on the results of action research projects conducted with the participation of 76 HR experts in five groups, we provide insights into two issues. First we identify the most common dilemma-patterns in HRM activities in present-day Hungary (dismissal, disciplinary actions, recruitment and organizational culture). Then, we move on to the reasons for moral silence as identified by HRM experts (among others, a lack of ethical knowledge, the lifelessness of the ethical institutional framework, ignorance and fear, power games and buck-passing).
Bird, F. B. (2005): Moral Muteness. In: Werhane, P. H. – Freeman, R. E. (eds): The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management. Business Ethics. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, pp. 360–363.
Bird, F. B. – Waters, J. A. (1995): The Moral Muteness of Managers. In: Stackhouse, M. L. (ed.): On Moral Business. Eerdmans Publishing Company, pp. 888–897.
Bolton, S. – Houlihan, M. (2007): Searching for the Human in HRM. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Brinkmann, J. – Lindeman, B. – Sims, R. (2016): Voicing Moral Concerns: Yes, but How? The Use of Socratic Dialogue Methodology. Journal of Business Ethics 139(3): 619–631.
Csillag, S. (2013): Walking a Thin Line? Action Learning Research and Practice 10(2): 124–147.
Dachler, H. P. – Enderle, G. (1989): Epistemological and Ethical Considerations in Conceptualizing and Implementing Human Resource Management. Journal of Business Ethics 8(8): 597–606.
De Cieri, H. – Kramar, R. (2005): HRM in Australia. North Ryde: McGraw Hill.
Deckop, J. – Giacalone, R. – Jurkiewicz, C. L. (2006): HRM ethics. Greenwich: Information Age.
De Cremer, D. (2009): Psychological Perspectives on Ethical Behavior and Decision Making. Charlotte: Information Age Publishing.
Drumwright, M. – Murphy, P. (2004): How Advertising Practitioners View Ethics: Moral Muteness, Moral Myopia, and Moral Imagination. Journal of Advertising 33(2): 7–24.
Ekuma, K. J. – Akobo, L. A. (2015): HRM Ethics and Professionals’ Dilemmas: A Review and Research Agenda. Human Resource Management Research 5(3): 47–57.
Fusilier, M. R. – Aby, C. D. – Worley, J. K. – Elliott, S. (1996): Perceived Seriousness of Business Ethics Issues. Business & Professional Ethics Journal 15(1): 67–78.
Goodpaster, K. (2007): Conscience and Corporate Culture. Blackwell: Oxford.
Greenwood, M. R. (2013): Ethical Analyses of HRM: A Review and Research Agenda. Journal of Business Ethics 114(2): 355–366.
Guerci, M. (2015): The Impact of HRM Practices and Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Ethical Climates. Journal of Business Ethics 126(2): 325–342.
Heidrich, B. – Chandler, N. (2015): Four Seasons in One Day: The Different Shades of Organisational Culture in Higher Education. Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy 3(4): 559–588.
Jacobs, G. – Belschak, F. – Hartog, D. (2014): (Un)Ethical Behavior and Performance Appraisal: The Role of Affect, Support, and Organizational Justice. Journal of Business Ethics 121(1): 63–76.
Legge, K. (1995): Human Resource Management: Rhetorics and Reality. London: Macmillan.
Linehan, C. – O’Brien, E. (2017): From Tell-Tale Signs to Irreconcilable Struggles: The Value of Emotion in Exploring the Ethical Dilemmas of HR Professionals. Journal of Business Ethics 141(4): 763–777.
Longenecker, C. – Ludwig, D. (1990): Ethical Dilemmas in Performance Appraisal Revisited. Journal of Business Ethics 9(12): 961–969.
Lowell, A. (2003): The Enduring Phenomenon of Moral Muteness. Suppressed Whistleblowing. Public Integrity 5(3): 187–204.
Martin, G. – Woldring, K. (2001): Ready for the Mantle? Australian HR Managers as Stewards of Ethics. International Journal of Human Resource Management 12(2): 243–255.
Mathis, R. – Jackson, J. (1997): Human Resource Management. USA: Thompson.
McCoy, B. (1989): The Parable of a Sadhu. In: Andrews, K. (ed): Ethics in Practice. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, pp. 201–207.
Nasir, S. (2015): Emerging Challenges of HRM in 21st Century. International Journal of Academic Research in Business 7(3): 216–223.
Orlitzky, M. – Swanson, D. (2006): Socially Responsible HRM. In: Deckop, J. (ed.): Human Resource Management Ethics. Greenwich, Connecticut: Information Age Publishing, pp. 3–24.
Park, K. M. – Hollinshead, G. (2011): Logics and Limits in Ethical Outsourcing and Offshoring in the Global Financial Services Industry. Competition & Change 15(3): 177–195.
Pichler, S. – Varma, A. – Michael, J. S. – Levy, P. E. (2016): Leader-Member Exchange, Group- and Individual-Level Procedural Justice and Reactions to Performance Appraisals. Human Resource Management 55(5): 871–883.
Pinnington, A. – Macklin, R. – Campbell, T. (2007): HRM Ethics and Employment. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ryan, L. V. (2006): Current Ethical Issues in Polish HRM. Journal of Business Ethics 66(2–3): 273–290.
Schumann, P. (2001): A Moral Principles Framework for Human Resource Management Ethics. Human Resource Management Review 11(1–2): 93–111.
Sung, S. Y. – Choi, J. N. – Kang, S. C. (2017): Incentive Pay and Firm Performance: Moderating Roles of Procedural Justice Climate and Environmental Turbulence. Human Resource Management 56(2): 287–305.
Verhezen, P. (2010): Giving Voice in a Culture of Silence. Journal of Business Ethics 96(2): 187–206.
Waters, J. – Bird, F. – Chant, P. (1986): Everyday Moral Issues Experienced by Managers. Journal of Business Ethics 5(5): 373–384.
Weiss, W. H. (1997): The Need for Ethical Behavior. Supervision 58: 15–18.
Wiley, C. (1998): Reexaminating Perceived Ethics Issues and Ethics Roles among Employment Managers. Journal of Business Ethics 17(2): 147–161.
Winstanley, D. – Woodall, J. (2000): The Ethical Dimensions of HRM. Human Resource Management Journal 10(2): 5–20.