Know the Code: Ethical Decision Making

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Logo of the series

Know the Code is a monthly series highlighting different sections of the County of San Diego Code of Ethics. 

By the Office of Ethics and Compliance

Every public servant, elected, appointed, or hired, enters into an agreement with the people: that as a public servant they will act ethically and seek to promote the public interest in the work that they do. An ethical awareness of the duty to act in the public interest will promote fairness and justice and advance the common good. The County is committed to excellence and high ethical standards. The County depends on employees to act with integrity every day. 

Making good ethical decisions requires the ability to recognize when there may be an ethical component to be addressed and then using a practiced method to explore and weigh the potential ethical aspects of a decision. Having a method for ethical decision-making is essential. When practiced regularly, the method becomes so familiar that we work through it automatically without consulting the specific steps. The County uses the Markkula Center ethical decision making model in its ethics trainings. 

You can put ethical decision making into action by using the abbreviated Ethical Action Test. Our reputation as a County, personally and collectively, is formed by our actions and performance.  When in doubt – Ask!  Does this pass the Ethical Action Test? 

ethical action test: is it the right thing to do graphic

March is Ethics Month! 

Want to know more about ethics and compliance at the County of San Diego? Ask your Department Ethics & Compliance Ambassador, the Office of Ethics and Compliance, and participate in some Ethics Month activities throughout the month of March. 

Check out the OEC webpage on InSite for information about upcoming Ethics & Compliance Program events, training, and resources including monthly “Know the Code” articles and micro-training videos. 

If you have questions about Ethics & Compliance training or how to access the training and other Ethics & Compliance resources, please contact the OEC team at oec@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-531-5174.  HHSA staff may also contact the dedicated HHSA Agency Compliance team at compliance.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov, 619-338-2807. 

The mission of the Office of Ethics and Compliance (OEC) is to assist in fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and compliance.