INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue VI June 2025
Ethical Practices and Perceptions of Organizational Ethics among
Employees in a Local Government Institution
Niña Marie G. Jamisolamin
Bukidnon State University, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, Philippines
Received: 27 May 2025; Accepted: 30 May 2025; Published: 28 June 2025
ABSTRACT
This study explores the ethical practices of employees in a local government institution in Bukidnon, Philippines,
amid growing expectations for integrity, transparency, and accountability in public service. Specifically, it aims
to identify employee ethical behaviors across personal, interpersonal, and organizational domains, examine the
perceived importance of ethical conduct, and assess its effect on organizational development. A descriptive
research design was utilized, employing purposive non-probability sampling. The primary data collection
instrument was a modified survey questionnaire adapted from the Institute of Business Ethics. Data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings revealed that ethical practices were consistently upheld across
all domains, with interpersonal ethics, such as respect, teamwork, and professionalism, emerging as the most
dominant. Employees viewed ethical behaviour as integral to fostering a positive work culture, enhancing public
confidence, and aligning individual performance with institutional values. Ethical conduct was perceived to
significantly strengthen organizational reputation, support resource efficiency, and ensure long-term
effectiveness. However, the study also noted operational challenges, particularly in maintaining confidentiality
and consistent attendance, indicating strategic improvement areas. These challenges underscore the necessity for
targeted interventions to reinforce ethical standards and address areas where adherence may be lacking. In
conclusion, the research affirms that ethical behavior is ingrained in the organizational culture of local
government service and serves as a key driver of individual accountability and institutional success.
Recommendations include ongoing ethics education, reinforced policy enforcement, and cultivating a value-
driven workplace culture to institutionalize ethical standards within government agencies, thereby promoting
integrity, transparency, and excellence in public service.
Keywords: Ethical Practices, Public Service, Disaster Risk Management
INTRODUCTION
In today's public sector environment, which is often complex and demanding, ethical behavior is not merely a
moral ideal but fundamentally a condition for good governance and public service delivery. As governments
around the world are working to rebuild and sustain public trust, particularly amid social unrest and heightened
scrutiny, the ethical behavior of public employees has become prevalent. Nowhere is this more pronounced than
in local government institutions, where the conduct of public employees in their daily interactions with citizens
often determines perceptions of fairness, accountability, and trustworthiness. Ethical behavior in the public sector
is more than simply following laws or regulations; it embodies the value of integrity, transparency, impartiality,
and responsibility in all aspects of the way the organization works (Benedicto & Caelian, 2020; Quain, 2019).
These values are vital for the integrity of individual employees but also for the legitimacy and effectiveness of
the organizations for which they work. However, while ultimately ethical behavior is an individual responsibility,
it is not devoid of the context of the organization's culture, leadership, and accountability structures.
Numerous studies emphasize that organizational ethical behavior significantly contributes to employee morale,
public confidence, institutional reputation, and long-term success (Moldova, 2025; Guo, 2022). Per Republic
Act No. 6713 (LawPhil, 1989) or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,
all public servants in the Philippines are required to uphold the highest standards of ethics in the performance of
their duties. The Code states the values of commitment to public interest, professionalism, integrity, and
accountability, which public officials must follow, act on, and abide by. The Code highlights the fact that officials
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