friend tells you that her boss made a pass at her. “It wasn't the first time,” she says. “He has made comments at work that I just don't think are appropriate,” she continues.She says that she is quite concerned because she likes working there and in every other respect the firm is a great place to work. “I don't know what to do. I already told this jerk designer that I am not interested,” she confides.3 Monica has missed work for two weeks twice in the last three months. This is due to an illness of one of her children. She is very experienced at the design of residential interiors and gets good responses from clients, but the absences have become a problem for her manager. Although she is entitled to some sick leave each month, the time she has missed exceeds that amount.Her boss has called her into his office and informs her that perhaps she should look for another job. All the time she has missed is interfering with her performance of her basic duties. Other designers have to pick up her work.Even though she has worked for this company for three years, her boss's attitude disturbs her. She is not sure what to do, but wants to potentially look for another job. She knows her work record will be part of her job history and will likely come up in an interview.
REFERENCE
1 1. Lewin G. Joel, 1996, p. 46.
CHAPTER 7 Ethics and Professional Conduct
Interior designers on occasion will come to an ethics crossroad: One path leads to behavior that is expected of a professional; on the other path are temptations that lead to behavior contrary to ethical standards. Perhaps the temptations result from an omission rather than outright commission, yet the unethical behavior occurs. The decision has consequences for the individual, his or her company and client, and the profession as a whole.
Although the unethical behavior of an interior designer is very unlikely to garner headlines, ethical standards are just as important in the interior design profession as in any other. The expectations and demands for ethical professional behavior in interior design increase as our world continues to become more complex.
If we expect other professionals who affect our lives to behave ethically, interior designers must be held to the same standards. Thus, it is imperative that ethical behavior be treated as more than just a brief discussion in class while students anticipate getting into “more important” subjects. This chapter presents an overview of ethics concepts and issues as they relate to the professional practice of interior design.
After completing this chapter you should be able to:
Explain the importance of ethical standards.
Explain a conflict of interest that might exist between you and your client or between you and a colleague.
Explain why a conflict of interest can be damaging to your professional activities.
Differentiate and explain an example of proprietary and nonproprietary employer information.
Explain how someone's unethical behavior can affect others working in your market location.
Discuss whether commissions or kickbacks are permissible based on professional association's code of conduct.
Discuss why ethical behavior is important for anyone working in the interior design profession, regardless of association affiliation.
Discuss what you should do if you discover that a colleague has breached or behaved in contradiction to the code of conduct of one of the professional associations.
Name the three specific reasons discussed in the text why people behave unethically. Discuss how these actions negatively affect dealing with clients.
NCIDQ COMPONENT
Based on the best information available, some material in this chapter might appear as part of the NCIDQ examination. The reader should not depend solely on this text for study material.
ETHICAL STANDARDS
You have no doubt heard about the ethical standards of attorneys and those in the medical profession. When we hire this type of professional, we expect them to behave in an ethical manner. Ethical standards define what is right and wrong in relation to the professional behavior of any group that considers it to be a profession. It expects the members of that profession to conduct itself in an ethical manner.
Ethical standards and behavior have always been a concern of the interior design profession and professional associations. Adherence to the “Code of Ethics and Professional Practice” was expected of members of the AID in its earliest years.1 In fact, the AID Code of Ethics and Professional Practice was published in a professional practice manual at least as early as 1961.2
Establishment of ethical standards is not limited to associations that expect ethical behavior of their members. Jurisdictions that pass legislation for title registration, practice acts, or other legal recognition often include ethical standards and usually disciplinary standards for those who violate the statutes. Furthermore, those in the profession—regardless of association, legislative edict, or choice to be part of this profession—should feel an obligation to behave in an ethical manner and abide by an ethical standard.
Ethical standards and behavior affect interior designers in many ways. Naturally, they have an impact on the relationships between the designer and his or her client. However, serious ethical situations may arise between the designer and those with whom the designer must work in the interest of the client. It is not inconceivable for ethical issues to arise between an interior designer and contractors, vendors, craftspeople, and others in the trade and the wider design–build industry.
Many situations involving ethical standards and behavior affect the business of design. Some of these situations include the creation of contracts, marketing activities, budgeting, employee management, and financial activities. The interior design professional also owes a duty of ethical behavior toward others in the profession, whether they are other employees, the employer, or colleagues at other design firms.
The teaching and discussion of ethics and an enforceable code of ethics from professional associations provide definable and enforceable standards for this profession. However, a code of ethics cannot by itself produce ethical behavior. Ethical behavior must come from individual designers themselves in their daily dealings with clients, peers, the public, and allied professionals.
ETHICS IN THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
If a design business operates within the law, is it also operating within an ethical business environment? You could reverse that and ask: If a company operates ethically, is it also operating within the law? Most people believe that ethics involves “doing the right thing.” Operating within the law, to most people, means abiding by the legal statutes that apply to the business. Sometimes these concepts overlap, but they are not identical.
Clause 3.1 in the IIDA Code of Ethics says, “In performing professional services, Professional and Associate Members shall exercise reasonable care and competence, and shall conform to existing laws, regulations and codes governing the profession of interior design as established by the state or other jurisdiction in which they conduct business.”3
