Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Current Ethical Issues in Polish HRM

  • Published:
Journal of Business Ethics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Contemporary HRM was introduced into Poland by the arrival of international corporations with their professional systems of Human Resource Management, which emphasizes ethical personnel management. This research is based on data collected from a questionnaire and interview of 40 women and men professional graduates of the 2004 Weekend MBA Program at Poznan University of Economics eliciting their perceptions of ethical issues in Polish HRM. The present Polish economic situation, with 19% unemployment, precipitates many ethical challenges. The questionnaire and interviews resulted in 217 observations and specific examples of ethical HRM issues. Examples fall in two broad categories and five specific Human Resource areas. The broad external categories are: (1) History and cultural attitudes and (2) Exploitation of the current unemployment situation. Historical and cultural attitudes influence attitudes toward work; company discipline; property and ownership; law and social expectations at work. The history of personnel departments in Socialistic Poland explains many of these attitudes. The five specific categories are: (1) Ethical issues in recruitment; (2) Ethical issues in hiring (Discrimination issues); (3) Ethical issues in performance appraisals and promotions; (4) Abuse of authority (including sexual harassment), and (5) “Mobbing”. Ethical issues in these categories include correlation with appropriate Polish Labor and Penal Laws. This research reveals some HRM ethical challenges unique to Polish HRM. The research emphasizes professional HRM and ethical expectations, which are now being recognized and accepted as a strategic component of Polish management

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, J. L., Jr. Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church On the Collaboration of Men and Women and the World (Vatican: Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, July 31, 2004), National Catholic Reporter, 40(36), August 13, 2004, p. 5.

  • Catechism of The Catholic Church: 1994, Vatican: Libreria Editrice, 1994, English Edition, Liguori Press Ligurori, MO, Article 7.1. 2408, p. 578.

  • Guardiano, J.: 1994, Developing Standards of Business Ethics in Poland (Center for International Private Enterprise, USIS American Embassy, Stockholm). p. 2.

  • Hunter, R. J., Jr. and L.V. Ryan: 1998, ‘Reprivitazation: How to Compensate Former Owners’, From Autarchy to Market: Polish Economics and Politics 1945–1995 (Westport, Conn: Praeger), pp. 114–138.

  • R. J. Hunter SuffixJr L. V. Ryan R. H. Shapario (2003) Poland: A Transformational Analysis Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences New York

    Google Scholar 

  • J. H. Jackson R. L. Mathis (2002) Human Resource Management: Essential Perspectives EditionNumber2 US. Southwest – Thompson Learning Cincinnati, OH 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, L.V.: 1992, ‘The New Poland: Major Problems for Ethical Business’, Business Ethics: A European Review, 1(1), pp. 9–15 for a overview of ethical issues in Polish transition from Soviet Socialism (Communism) to a democratic, free-market system.

  • Ryan, L.V.: 1995, ‘Ethical Perspections of Polish Business Students’, Business Ethics: A European Review, 4(1), 36–42, for an earlier analogous study of 40 Magister students at Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.

  • A. Stanowski (2002) Democracy, Civil Identity and a Critical Attitude Towards Authority L. Dyczewski (Eds) Values in the Polish Cultural Tradition. Polish Philosophical Studies The Research Council in Values and Philosophy Washington, DC 2

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Warren (1999) ArticleTitleAgainst Paternalism in Human Resource Management Business Ethics: A European Review 8 IssueID1 1 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-8608.00125

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leo V. Ryan, 1212 E. Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL, 60004-5799, U.S.A.

    Leo V. Ryan

Authors
  1. Leo V. Ryan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leo V. Ryan.

Additional information

Brother Leo V. Ryan, CSV is Professor of Management – Emeritus and former Dean, College of Commerce, De Paul University. He is a Fellow, St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge, holds honorary degrees from Seton Hall University and Illinois Benedictine University and was a Fulbright Professor in Poland (1993–1995). He is past president, Society for Business Ethics. He is co-author or co-editor of Human Action in Business (1996); Etyka Biznesu (1997); From Autarcy to Market – Polish Economics and Politics (1998); Students Focus on Ethics (2000); Praxiology and Pragmatism (2002) and Poland: A Transformational Analysis (2003). He has been an annual Visiting Professor, Poznan University of Economics, Poznan, Poland since November 1999.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ryan, L.V. Current Ethical Issues in Polish HRM. J Bus Ethics 66, 273–290 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-5598-7

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-5598-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation