College and Career Readiness Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide for College and Career Success

Beliefs and behaviors about what is right and wrong in a work environment are captured by work ethics. This term refers to the standards of professional conduct you follow—honesty, integrity, reliability, respect for others, accountability, and adherence to company policies. These ethics guide everyday decisions and actions, such as reporting a mistake, protecting confidential information, treating coworkers fairly, and meeting obligations. The other concepts describe different things: a professional organization is a group that supports professionals; discrimination is unfair treatment based on characteristics; peer pressure is the influence from others to act a certain way. None of those define the internal beliefs and behaviors about right and wrong in the workplace as clearly as work ethics.