When the Ethical Climate Changes the Way We Work

Marcela Peterson

I’ve been in workplaces where acting transparently felt natural because everyone around me did the same. I’ve also experienced environments where rules were confusing or simply didn’t apply to everyone. The difference this made to my engagement and well-being was enormous.

DeConinck’s (2010) research helps explain this contrast. The author found that an organization’s ethical climate — how employees perceive ethical norms and practices — directly influences both attitudes and behaviors at work. For example, environments grounded in responsibility and trust reduce stress, increase satisfaction with leadership, and strengthen organizational commitment.

Looking back, I can see how this plays out in real life. In places where ethical behavior was clear and valued, I felt more motivated and resilient when facing challenges. But in contexts where questionable actions were ignored, motivation faded quickly, along with my desire to stay on the team.

The key point is that having a written code of ethics or motivational slogans isn’t enough. What really matters is the climate built day by day — trust, fairness, and consistent examples. That’s what sustains satisfaction, boosts performance, and reduces turnover.

In the end, I realized that working in an ethically healthy climate isn’t just about avoiding mistakes; it’s about creating conditions for everyone to give their best with clarity, safety, and integrity.

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