A code of ethics? Yes, that was the title of the next document to be signed. It was my first day at my 3rd internship of 2010 and although unpaid, certain to be treated poorly, and the newly designated “go fetch girl,” I was promising to endorse and abide by their code of ethics.
Maybe if I weren’t 24, if I weren’t in graduate school, if I hadn’t done my very best to follow the straight and narrow path towards success I wouldn’t feel such resentment towards having to sign another code of ethics where I was agreeing to act however they deemed appropriate while knowing that no reciprocation would be taken. They weren’t promising anything. But in a town where students willingly work for pennies a day, stomping the Hill with blister ridden feet, and fight for unpaid internships—I guess I was actually one of the lucky ones. Or maybe I was just a glutton for misery.
Either way, they had me: my social security #, my contact information and they had my signature.
In reality, I think a code of ethics is justifiable, necessary and important to maintain. In theory I believe that codes of ethics set a standard for the image a company wants to portray, requiring a level of integrity from every level of staff. Historically, I believe they even provided a level of protection for their employees. I just wish that there were some something in it for me right now.
It’s hard to maintain any sort of devotion or loyalty to an office when your time, your effort and you energy don’t mean anything to your employer. It’s hard to endorse a code of ethics when the very people who hand you the document, treat you badly within the first 20 minutes after you’ve arrived.
On Oct. 3 Washington Post Ombudsman Andy Alexander commented on how former employees- now contract writers- are beginning to disregard the code of ethics the Post has established. I think I can understand why.
