What's integrity in the workplace and why is it important? (+examples)

Now that you have a clear idea of what integrity is in general, let’s go a little deeper by answering the question, “what is integrity at work?”

Integrity at work supports a company and a leader's set of moral and ethical standards. This will result in both happier employers and employees.

For instance, reviewing policies and procedures before starting a complex task or being honest about forgetting to do an important task are two examples of showing integrity at work.

Integrity at work is also about committing with integrity. For example, if a team leader shares a new project, employees with integrity need to be honest about their time and abilities before agreeing to take on more work. They also need to make sure they have an understanding of what’s needed and the scope of the project. 

If there’s a lack of integrity on the team, members will halfheartedly accept new assignments, even if they are not able to accomplish them on time. They might also walk out of the meeting still wondering what their role in the project actually is.

At its core, integrity at work is about taking the initiative, negotiating your time honestly, and staying aligned with your personal and work values. That also means delivering on your commitments when you make them, and saying no when you can’t take on anything new. Finally, it’s about knowing how to communicate — so if you do get out of integrity, you can admit your mistakes honestly and share how you will fix the situation.

Having integrity at work means you: 

1. Are reliable and dependable (i.e., you show up to work on time)
2. Are trustworthy, especially with classified information and high-risk tasks
3. Practice and encourage open communication with your colleagues and managers
4. Are respectful, honest, and patient with your colleagues, managers, and customers
5. Have a strong work ethic and strive to produce high-quality work consistently 
6. Are responsible for your actions, especially when you make a mistake
7. Make sound decisions, even under high-stress situations 
8. Are equipped to provide high-quality service to your customers

Example 1: being honest when faced with a difficult challenge 

Kate, a kindergarten teacher, has been struggling to help two of her students get along. The two students often push and hit each other, call each other names, and sometimes even get the rest of the class involved. 

Because of this conflict, the two students can’t concentrate on assignments and are struggling to turn in work on time. Sometimes the conflict also prevents the rest of the class from staying focused on their work. 

After trying to solve the problem on her own, Kate reaches out to the school principal. The principal values her honesty. After discussing the problem with the two students, they ask the school counselor to mediate the situation.

Afterward, they give the students the chance to rejoin the class, with the expectation to show improved behavior.

Thanks to Kate’s honesty about facing a difficult challenge:

• The two students were able to resolve the conflict without switching classes. 
• Kate’s class regained focus and began turning in assignments on time.
• Kate earned more trust from her principal.

Example 2: owning up to mistakes

Jared, a banker and loan officer, has just accepted a new position as a home equity loan officer at a nearby bank. During his first month of employment, he mentors under another loan officer and takes notes to understand his responsibilities.

During the second month of employment, he meets with his manager and his mentor about managing a new loan application. 

Under the impression that they would be working on this loan as a team, Jared collects the customer’s loan application, stores it in the online directory for his manager and mentor to finish, and then moves on to other tasks.

Two weeks later, he comes across the same loan application and realizes no one ever sent the application to the underwriter for approval. It turns out it wasn’t meant to be a team effort — Jared was responsible for the loan application all along.

Embarrassed by his mistake, Jared turns to his manager to explain the situation. Although his manager isn’t happy that the loan application was never processed, he appreciates Jared's transparency. 

Thanks to Jared owning up to his mistake:

• The manager was able to help Jared speed up the loan process. 
• Jared understood that he was officially responsible for his customers’ loan applications on his own.
• Jared’s manager valued his transparency and taking responsibility for his mistake. 

Example 3: doing the right thing, even when nobody's watching 

Mary, a digital marketer, is in the middle of a huge project with her team. They’re in charge of planning 90 days worth of digital content for a new client by Thursday morning. 

On Monday and Tuesday, Mary and the other team members work hard on the project. However, by Wednesday, morale is low, and her teammates start to move slower and slower. 

When the marketing manager announces she’ll be leaving for the rest of the day to attend a funeral, the team breathes a sigh of relief. Then, they stop working on the project altogether. 

While her teammates waste time, Mary continues with her work, even though her manager is gone. 

Not wanting to disturb her manager during a funeral, Mary politely tries to encourage her team to get back to work. While most of the team members don’t listen, a few of them decide to pitch in to help her finish the project. 

By the end of Wednesday, Mary and a few teammates finished the project without help from the rest of the team. On Thursday, Mary met with her manager to explain what happened and turn in the final project. 

Thanks to Mary doing the right thing:

• The project was turned in on time. 
• Her manager set up accountability checkpoints for the team.
• Her manager promoted her to team supervisor.

Here are six more benefits that come from a culture of integrity at work:

1. Promotes better leaders

Companies that hold their managers up to high ethical standards promote strong and ethical leaders. 

Leaders with integrity understand that their actions, words, and decisions shape the company’s values, culture, and morale. They value their customers, become role models for their team, and act with good intentions rather than with selfish motives.

2. Helps foster an open and positive work environment

A strong organization values integrity as a way to foster an open and positive work environment. When employees know their company operates based on strong values, they feel comfortable sharing ideas, connecting with their team, and being themselves.

3. Promotes an ethical approach to decision-making

From protecting stakeholders to creating new products, upholding strong moral standards in the workplace helps team members make deliberate, thoughtful decisions.

4. Encourages diversity, equity, and inclusion

Companies that promote integrity value having a diverse team. They welcome a variety of perspectives, celebrate differences, and strive for equality in the workplace.

5. Promotes strong and resilient teams

Teams are strong and resilient when they have a set of standards as guidance. They also feel a sense of meaning and purpose at work. This contributes to their morale, productivity, and engagement. It can even push employees to reach peak performance.

6. Actively builds and maintains trust

Honesty and integrity are the main pillars of trust — an essential component for building credibility. As businesses strive to keep customers and employees, their credibility is the driving force that influences them to stay.