I am taking a class in college to become a virtual assistant, and I am reading a book about ethics. The book suggest you look into some common ethical issues you would run into in the profession you are considering, so you can determine if you are going to be comfortable with the situation you may have to face regularly. I was hoping some of you could share with me the common ethical issue you face. Have you worked for companies that don’t have ethics that were in line with your own? What did you do? Or any other ethical issue you come across frequently in your profession. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I am very interested making sure I become a VA that practices a solid ethical code.

I think the best way to look at ethics is "How would I feel if I were treated like this? Whether I knew about it or not." Gut instinct and comfort zone can really carry you a long way. If it feels wrong, it probably is...

As far as unethical requests, I'm a bookkeeper and had an ex-client ask me to 'blend' some of their personal expenses into their business so they could take more of a tax write-off. Which is the reason they are an ex-client. I won't do anything 'illegal, immoral or painful.'

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I work on autoresponder emails, brochures and e-newsletters for clients. I am often asked to set-up email lists from varying sources but it is not ethical or legal to send out email in which the recipient has not opted-into or agreed to receive.

I've turned down projects where I had that 'gut feeling' as Lily mentioned that the lists were not legitimate. I won't be responsible for incurring more spam in this world.

Janine

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