How an Ethical Mind Makes a Healthy Home

When it comes to ethics and integrity, there are a lot of articles, opinions and ideas available.  Most of them are true, accurate and important to both business and our personal lives. To fully take advantage of all this information, consider the six main principles of Ethical Leadership and apply each one to your company and position.

1-Respect: Historically, respect was given to leaders for their position. Respect must be earned.  The greatest way to earn respect is to give respect to others.  Mutual respect leads to a healthier working environment and both sides then support each other.  A superintendent that disrespects a crew member will never gain respectful treatment in return. As of 2025, Generation Z makes up a growing portion of the workforce and is known for demanding ethical leadership. Respect is not earned without ethical work and fair treatment.  In an aging workforce, learning to get the most out of the new generation of workers is critical to success.  Start by giving respect and see how much can be gained.

2-Accountability: Ethical leaders hold themselves accountable for their actions.  Decisions are

based on integrity so they can stand behind their work. When giving direction, confidence that your actions are right, gives your team confidence in what they are doing. This is often accomplished by leading by example, communicating openly about challenges, and not placing blame on others when things don’t go as planned. If crews are not performing within budget, get involved and find out why rather than blaming and moving on. Take accountability, take action, and make it better.

3-Service: Leaders make ethical decisions based on doing what is right for employees, customers and the community.  What is right for each is right for the company.  This mindset often creates a strong sense of service that often leads to charitable giving, volunteer work and community involvement. Serving in the right way is infectious and spreads from your personal life to your work community. Through Reed Community Service, our employees give back by volunteering in local schools, supporting health and wellness initiatives like the American Heart Association Heart Walks, engaging students through career outreach and Touch-A-Truck events, contributing to community giving efforts, and supporting conservation projects such as California Waterfowl Preservation. In the end, serving each other builds a stronger company.

4-Honesty: Leaders who are transparent build trust from their peers and direct reports. 

Communicating honest goals and honest misses builds trust and support.  A crew that understands the cost of missing schedules or making costly mistakes is more likely to perform well from the start.  Fear of punishment does not work as well as understanding the real impact of missed goals or inefficiencies.  Be honest about goals and the cost of missing them - let the team be a part of the success.  Also, be straight and truthful with the wins, they often outweigh the losses. 

5-Justice: When we hear the word, “justice”, we often think of the law. Justice is more than that—it is about fairness. Ethical leaders avoid favoritism and apply expectations consistently. This does not mean strong performers cannot be rewarded, but it does require fairness in both recognition and corrective action. When employees believe favoritism exists, engagement and effort decline. Be consistent and just, and teams will appreciate it. 

6-Community: Ethical leaders see their companies as communities.  A healthy community creates a healthy home. To build a strong community, leaders must focus on equity, safety, and resilience. Consider how the health of your personal community impacts your life, then apply that mindset at work. All employees become part of the community, and their success drives collective success. From President to Laborer, our home is healthier when everyone succeeds.

Ethics are easy to talk about and easier to point out when they are missing.  Consider the six points above and apply them daily.  When we do this consistently, success grows, trust strengthens, and the workplace becomes a healthier place to be.