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Technical Writing in the Digital Age: Difference between revisions
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Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref> | Technical communicators have ethical standards to which they must abide. The standards are divided into three primary categories. They are the employer, the public, and the environment.<ref name=":0">Markel, Mike. ''Technical Communication''. 9th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Boston, 2009. p.22-25.</ref> | ||
=== The Employer === | |||
Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer. | Obligations to one's employer include competence and diligence, honesty and candor, confidentiality, and loyalty.<ref name=":0" /> The technical communicator must adhere to these obligations so that he/she does not harm the reputation or operation of the employer. | ||
Technical communicators may occasionally work for an organization with strict privacy policies that prohibit they from using the documents they create outside of the organization. It is important for ethical communicators to follow the privacy policy for their organization because unauthorized release of information could lead to consequences up to an including termination.<ref name=":4" /> | |||
=== The Public === | |||
Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" /> | Organizations are obligated to treat customers fairly. Technical communicators must convey that the products or services an organization sells are safe and effective.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== The Environment === | |||
Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Disposal of hazardous waste is far more costly than dumping it. Organizations could be tempted to skirt the legal procedures.<ref name=":0" /> One would hope that the penalty of 5 years and/or up to $50,000 per day for knowingly disposing of hazardous waste in a way contrary to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations would be a sufficient deterrent.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra | Technical communicators have an obligation to the environment. This obligation includes alerting their supervisors, managers, and executive leadership to products or processes that are detrimental to the environment. Disposal of hazardous waste is far more costly than dumping it. Organizations could be tempted to skirt the legal procedures.<ref name=":0" /> One would hope that the penalty of 5 years and/or up to $50,000 per day for knowingly disposing of hazardous waste in a way contrary to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's regulations would be a sufficient deterrent.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/criminal-provisions-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act-rcra | ||
|title=Criminal Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act | |title=Criminal Provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act | ||