Welcome to Ask the Ethics Office . Each month, we will address your questions.

We thought we'd start off by explaining our focus. A wise friend of ours noted that the difference between personal and political ethics is that personal ethics is about making individuals better. Political ethics has the more modest goal of making public policy better. Workplace ethics encourages us to fulfill our mission with respect for individuals, community and environment. The goal of the Ethics Office is to encourage the ethical pursuit of mission and ethical development of public policy.

More than a decade ago, Metropolitan directors and executives identified six core values to use in delivering the water and creating public policy in an ethical fashion: integrity, leadership, diversity, teamwork, stewardship and open communication.

Here are questions that can help you notice the values in practice when making everyday decisions:

1. Does my choice reflect open communication? Am I willing to justify it publicly?
2. Does my choice reflect the best of myself (integrity)?
3. Have I brought relevant others on board in making my choice (teamwork)?
4. Does my choice reflect judicious use of resources (stewardship)?
5. Does my choice reflect an appreciation of perspectives different from my own (diversity)?
6. Does my choice advance MWD's mission (leadership)?

Let us know when you see co-workers demonstrating Metropolitan's values in practice. Feel free to ask questions.

Deni Elliott , Ethics Officer
Jeff Cable , Ethics Educator