The Importance Of A Conflict Of Interest In The Workplace

Professionals should not develop a personal relationship in the work place because it is unethical, is a conflict of interest, and leads to more severe consequences. I will discuss the definition of a conflict of interests, the reasons why having a relationship that is too personal in the work place is unethical, and how it will impact me as a health educator.
A conflict of interest is when behavior and/or actions clash with the expectations of that professional. A conflict of interest can affect many aspects of the work place. It is important for health professionals to always be familiar with their contracts, ethical guidelines, and legal guidelines. There are various types of conflict of interest, such as: relations amongst coworkers, relations …show more content…
Occasionally, there is a thin line between behaving unethically and being friendly. Having a love interest at work could happen to anybody, but it is best to go about handling the situation in a professional manner. When a health or fitness professional is involved with a client it can be complicated to try to end that relationship. For example, the trainer could attempt to release the client, but there is a chance that the client could sue them and say that their relations were non-consensual. Also, a client could become irrational and belligerent when they are asked to go to another trainer. A conflict of interest can lead to a negative outcome when it comes to that professional’s reputation and integrity. Once a health professional develops a personal relationship with a client it can alter their ability to be truthful with them. Clients need someone to be truthful with them, and someone that can give them the right workouts. Another example of a conflict of interest is hiring a family member based solely on the fact that the parties involved are relatives. If a physical therapist hires a relative as an assistant but they do not give them the proper training, it could be a very bad idea for their …show more content…
Expectations are put in place once you accept the role as a health or fitness professional. Those expectations include staying within ones boundaries. Once a health or fitness professional steps out of bounds, their credibility can easily be taken away from them. Some may argue that there are companies that allow for relationships to continue in the work place. This is very true, but it does not make the relationship ethical. As stated above, a personal relationship can effect performance levels in the workplace even though the company may be accepting of the relationship. A conflict of interest could cause a breach in confidentiality. Being intimate with a coworker opens the door for more conversation about what goes on at work. Dating a coworker could lead to a breach in confidentiality. When confidentiality is effected it makes a conflict of interest