Perceptions of Workplace Ethics Among Academic Staff in South Eastern Nigerian Universities

Abstract

Higher education institutions are expected by society to produce knowledgeable graduates who will contribute responsibly to their communities and the country as a whole. If concerns about workplace ethics are to be discussed and addressed with meaningful outcomes, a detailed analysis of academics’ perceptions is essential, as they have a significant influence in defining appropriate professional behavior for students. The general objective of the study is to determine workplace ethics: perceptions of academic staff in universities in South Eastern Nigeria. In this study, thirty academic staff members from selected universities in South Eastern Nigeria were surveyed, and their responses were analyzed using qualitative methodologies. Ten items on an in-depth interview form were used. The findings were examined using themes that accurately depicted the respondents’ perceptions. The results indicate that academic staff members view professional ethics as the objective means of achieving the university’s goals. The findings also show that university lecturers view workplace ethics as a tool for controlling faculty members’ attitudes regarding behavior at work. Academic staff members are seen as individuals who play essential roles in organizations, often involved in learning and aiding others in achieving personal growth. The study’s recommendations include the following: raising awareness of unethical behavior should be treated seriously so that no one can claim ignorance. Administrators should engage in intensive awareness creation to help curb unethical issues in learning institutions in order to raise staff ethical sensitivity in universities.