In the professional world, the terms "duties" and "obligations" are often used interchangeably. However, there are clear distinctions between the two concepts. An act of duty comes from a moral or legal necessity, according to DiffSense. An obligation, on the other hand, arises out of a set of rules aimed at maintaining order that one has signed himself up for. These distinctions can be applied to the workplace.
Guided by the philosophical definition of duty, a business' ownership and management have a moral duty to respect their employees and provide a positive work environment. Employees expect a workplace that allows them to air concerns without fear of retaliation or cold treatment from managers. An ethical employer considers the well-being and advancement of his workers when making business decisions. He does not seek to arbitrarily replace an employee without good reason or a warning.
An employer's obligations are often tied to legal responsibilities. For example, an employer must implement health and safety measures in the workplace in accordance with local, state and federal laws as well as industry standards. Emergency exits should be easily accessible.
Advertisement Article continues below this adWhen applicable, the employer should provide safety gear such as protective clothing for handling chemicals or other dangerous substances. Employees should also comply with laws prohibiting discrimination in the workplace based on age, gender, race, religion, ethnic background or physical disability.
An employee has a moral obligation to be loyal to his employer, do the job he is paid to do to the best of his ability, and apply his knowledge and skills to meet the objectives set out for him. For example, the duty of a bookkeeper is to ensure that a company's financial records are accurate and up to date. The duty of honesty is prevalent in all positions, according to Compact Law.
Advertisement Article continues below this adWhen an employee wants to resign from a job, he has a duty to give adequate notice to his employer to avoid disrupting the business. Moral obligations of an employee extend to interactions with coworkers and customers as well. He should treat colleagues and customers with respect and consideration. An employee also has a duty to maintain professional ethics in his business relationships.
An employee is legally bound to fulfill his end of contractual obligations to a business. If he signs a contract to work for a certain number of years, for example, he is obligated to fulfill the terms of the contract. If he signs a contract preventing him from sharing company secrets or intellectual property with others outside the company, he must uphold that obligation as well. He is also obligated to perform his job without breaking laws. An employer has a right to institute legal proceedings when his employee violates his legal obligations.