Everyday Ethics Report: How Public Servants Navigate Ethical Grey Zones

In the public sector, ethics isn’t just a policy – it’s a practice. It’s the quiet decisions made in meetings, the judgment calls made during business as usual, and the values that guide how we serve our communities.

Everyday Ethics: Initial Research Report, dives into how public servants navigate ethical decision-making in their daily work – and what that means for leadership, culture, and accountability.

Everyday ethics is about the subtle, often invisible choices that shape outcomes in a commercial or service provider relationship. It’s the tension between following procedure and doing what feels right. It’s balancing fairness with efficiency, or relationships with rules.

Through this research, we found that ethical decision-making is deeply contextual. It’s influenced by leadership, workplace culture, and the systems people operate within. And while formal codes of conduct matter, it’s the informal conversations and shared values that often guide behaviour.

This novel research explores everyday ethics in an evaluation context – who contributes to ethical challenges, how and what we might do about mitigating and managing these everyday ethics issues better.

What the study told us

• Ethics is lived, not laminated: It’s not just about knowing the rules – it’s about applying values in real time.
• Support matters: People want spaces to reflect, ask questions, and talk through ethical challenges.
• Leadership sets the tone: Ethical culture starts at the top – but it’s sustained by everyone.

3 things you can do

If you’re in a leadership role, or simply want to foster a more ethical workplace, here are three practical takeaways:

1. Create space for reflection: Encourage open dialogue about ethical tensions – especially the grey murky areas.
2. Build supportive systems: Make it easy for staff to seek guidance and share concerns.
3. Recognise ethical leadership: Celebrate those who model integrity, even in small ways.

Want to explore how these insights apply to your team or agency?
📅 Book a meeting with Kristy

Let’s keep the conversation going – because ethics isn’t just a checkbox. It’s how we show up, every day.

Gain practical insights, learn from real-world examples, and equip your team to navigate ethical grey areas with confidence. Everyday ethics isn’t abstract – it’s happening now, and understanding it is essential for an effective public sector.