The Oath
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Impact

Demonstration and impact of ethics

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The Situation

I was asked to prioritise some work which would have disadvantaged other people unfairly.

How did the BFSO aid in your response?

I knew it was the wrong thing to do but it still felt like it was expected of me. I just said I didn’t feel comfortable doing it and that when it came to doing their work I would do the best job I could.

The Impact

The person walked away. They may have asked someone else to do what they wanted, but I didn’t.

How did it make you feel?

I was initially intimidated but felt quite proud I had stood my ground.


The Situation

There have been instances where the objectives of the business I found myself working at were directly in conflict of those of our clients.

How did the BFSO aid in your response?

I decided to talk to my team about how we could refine some of our processes to make a bit more consumer-centric rather than working against them in some instances.

The Impact

We decided to introduce a new role in the team of a Client Manager who we would report to if we saw that colleagues were doing something that would burden the client with work eg reports that we could do on our own.

How did it make you feel?

It was an empowering experience because you could see that you had actually made a difference.


The Situation

There was a situation where a non-profit association had incorrectly hosted an AGM and elected new executive outside of their rules set out in the organisation’s constitution.

How did the BFSO aid in your response?

This was wrong and unfair to members. Clarity, transparency and operational conduct should be upheld at elections. I urged the chair to recognise these violations.

The Impact

A new vote was conducted in line with the rules.

How did it make you feel?

I felt quite good about myself because I feel as though the constitution of an organisation should be preserved and that election processes need to be done properly.


The Situation

When working once in a company’s Business Bank, clients needed funds for the settlement of a commercial property and I was responsible for getting the paperwork arranged. This was, however, requested outside the work prioritisation queue that we used and conflicted with our usual protocols.

How did the BFSO aid in your response?

The key purpose of banking should be to service clients. I requested that my manager make an exception to the queue rules and let me work on this to ensure that the client's needs were met.

The Impact

I was able to arrange everything in time and the deal was executed accordingly.

How did it make you feel?

The best feeling is when you go out of your way to help someone. I think that in some cases, an exception to the rules is warranted where they might actually facilitate some sort of positive benefit for a stakeholder.


The Situation

When asked why some numbers I submitted to a department did not equal the numbers I had to begin with I assumed I’d made a mistake. I triple checked and there was no mistake. When I asked my team about the issue, they said it happens and I should manage this myself.

How did the BFSO aid in your response?

Since becoming a signatory I have become more aware of ethics and don’t just do what everyone else is doing if it doesn’t feel right.

The Impact

I was able to address the person directly and just ask why. There was a reasonable reason and a process had been missed to save time.

How did it make you feel?

I know that one day the reason won’t be fair or perhaps not even legal and I will act accordingly - I know I need to be more comfortable with asking why so this was a good start.

Share your impact story

The Oath

  • Trust is the foundation of my profession.
  • I will serve all interests in good faith.
  • I will compete with honour.
  • I will pursue my ends with ethical restraint.
  • I will help create a sustainable future.
  • I will help create a more just society.
  • I will speak out against wrongdoing and support others who do the same.
  • I will accept responsibility for my actions.
  • In these and all other matters;
    My word is my bond.