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Department of Psychology

Professional vs. Employee    

John T. Ault, Ph.D.
Last updated: 5 April 2005

 

Characteristics of the Ideal Professional

Professional: L. pro = before + fateri = confess, proclaim, own. A professional is a person with a mission that she/he champions in society, e.g. physician proclaims principles of good physical health, attorney promotes proper civil relationships, psychologist works to improve mental health.

 Altruistic

Client Loyalty   
      Does not exploit clients, betray their trust, or use their dependency for personal advantage, e.g. mocking clients to enhance one’s ego.
      Respects personal, civil, and legal rights of clients, e.g. allows client to make a reasonable choice even if it means the professional “looks bad”
      Is objective: treats everyone equitably and fairly, does not put more effort into more attractive, high visibility, wealthy, or politically connected clients
     Ends services to clients who are not significantly benefiting them, does not perpetuate unnecessary services for profit or job security
     Dedicates self to service of others independent of rewards; once committed to provide a service, does not vary the quality of it according to anticipated payoff

Professional Loyalty
      Works in a supportive, honest, and cooperative manner with colleagues, e.g. refrains from gossiping about fellow professionals
      Gives credit where it is due
      Protects the integrity, reputation, and rights of the organization or association with which affiliated
      Does not compete with other professionals for clients or service opportunities, e.g. focused on helping people rather than who gets recognition or pay for doing it
      Contributes to the professional field through such activities as research, publishing, teaching others, and promoting good will

Dedicated
      Works for the good of others, the profession, and society, even without pay if needed, for example, does some volunteer, pro bono, work for the intrinsic good of the cause
      Acts in the best interest of the client, colleague, and society independent of self interest, for example, would recommend the elimination of  own job if such a change were desirable 

Competent

     Recognizes the limits of his/her knowledge and skills; does not present self as able to do more than actually can. (Human services professionals are especially bad about violating this in an effort to reassure clients and prove own worth.)
      Possesses up-to-date knowledge, set of skills, and ability to use these for client welfare 

Responsible

       Accepts responsibility for consequences of his/her work, for every event that occurs which otherwise would not have had it not been for the professional’s actions. (Major bind in litigations oriented society; admit responsibility and get sued all out of proportion to damages + may lose support of malpractice insurance company)
      Accepts individual accountability regardless of whether acting at own initiative or on directive from others; doesn’t “pass the buck” or blame employer directives (Contrast in Ethics cases 1.d.2 and 3.d.1)
      Maintains confidentiality so as to protect the clients’ dignity and privacy (Ongoing, major conflicts with insurance companies; HIPAA regulations)
      As far as is appropriate, informs clients regarding his/her purposes and actions; assists clients in making informed choices
      When conflicts of interests cannot be avoided the professional clarifies the nature of the conflicts to everyone involved and makes clear the direction of his/her loyalties; e.g., if directed to do something he/she feels is not in the best interest of a child the professional will openly state his/her opposition and intended course of action rather than go along or covertly sabotage the parent’s directive (Not always possible, depending on functional level of parents and others)
     Avoids multiple relationships that compromise professional judgment, for example, being romantically involved with a staff person whom he/she supervises or doing therapy with her/his financial advisor’s child
      Will not knowingly allow other professionals to misuse their power (problem of balancing loyalty to fellow professionals with reporting fellow professionals for misconduct)
      When he/she sees a wrong that needs correcting the professional makes all reasonable efforts to effect change by constructive action “within” before going to outside parties, for example, goes to the offending colleague first, giving him/her a chance to explain/change

Virtuous

      Follows the ethics code of her/his profession
     Works to acquire insights into his/her own motives, for example, does not promote client dependency in order to satisfy own needs to be needed
     Possesses reasonable control of her/his own impulses
     Recognizes personal problems, works to correct them, and sets limits on professional activity to prevent personal problems from corrupting professional service. For example, if chronic depression were significantly affecting performance the professional should seek help, arrange to make changes in work so as to minimize effects on others, take a leave (without pay if necessary) and/or inform her/his supervisor.
     *Is a public servant who sets the example for society, thus both public and private life should be exemplary.

Mission Oriented

     *Has a mission to fulfill, a service to society. Accomplishing that mission takes precedence over personal rewards.

Sources: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct from American Psychological Association; and “The Medical Model and Mental Hospitalization” by Erving Goffman.

 

Characteristics of the Ideal Employee

Loyal

     Acts on behalf of the employer; does what the employer would do if she/he were doing the job.
     Loyal to the company, acts to increase the employer’s profits, promote public image, etc.
    Acknowledges the proprietary rights of the employer; respects that within legal limits employer has right to direct employee as he/she pleases.
     *Is an agent of the employer; works to fulfill employer’s mission.

Profitable

     Competent:  does his/her job correctly and thoroughly; looks for new ways to save time and money.
     Efficient: does his/her job quickly and accurately.
     Reliable: on time physically and mentally ready to work, rarely misses work.        
     Is paid in direct proportion to production.
     Orderly and systematic worker.
     Safety conscious.

*Virtuous at Work

     Accepts directives from supervisors with a good attitude.
     Obeys company rules.
     Follows lines of authority.
     Honest; does not steal property or time from the employer.
     Gets along well with fellow employees.
     Keeps personal life out of the job setting (what the employee does on own time is own business; just required to perform properly at work; e.g. cannot be fired for public embarrassment over off-duty conduct; not fire due to being drunk even on job unless being sober is directly required for the job, e.g. driving truck).

Sources: Analysis of personnel manuals of three corporations

* Designates attributes that most distinguish the professional from the employee role

Advantages of Each Role

Category                                   Professional                                                              Employee

Responsibility                 Greater, therefore more influence                       Limited liability

Social Status                   Higher, therefore more influence                        Freedom from unrealistic
                                           and ego enhancing                                                expectations

Compensation               Salaried, therefore more flexibility                       Hourly, therefore paid for
                                                                                                                              every hour worked

Authority                           Own boss, therefore creates own                       Follows directives, emotional
                                           structure and opportunities                                  freedom

Accountability                  Accountable to self primarily,                               Accountable to boss, success
                                           therefore able to pursue own values                 easier to define and measure

Personal Life                   Role model at all times, greater                        Personal time is own, easier                                                                             opportunity for influencing others                       to separate work from
                                                                                                                             personal life

Education                        More educated; understands principles            More skills trained; begins
                                          and theory                                                                 earning sooner

Geographic Mobility      Often restricted due to licensing laws                 Interstate moves are easier

Career Mobility               Develop own independent practice                     Rise into management

Social Pressure            Greater pressure to conform                                 Greater freedom to deviate

Presentation

Put “Professional” and “Employee” on chalk board and have student suggest the stereotypical attributes for each role.

Hand out “Professional versus Employee” and walk through it giving the examples and illustrations; point out most essential differences as shown by *.

Under advantages of each point out that the stereotype that professionals earn more money than employees is probably false due to: (a) cost of education and lost earnings during years of education; (b) unpaid hours for professionals, example of when I worked 90 hours/week on Apollo as hourly employee along beside a salaried electrical engineer with masters degree; (c) overhead and benefits that professionals have to cover. A few, high profile professionals make big money. For vast majority of professional actual take home pay per hour is quite modest.

Can tie into ethics cases 1.d.2 (p. 14 & 15) and 3.d.1 (p. 48 & 49).

Mentality more than officially defined position:
      If I see myself as employee of SUU focus on salary, working conditions, supplies, fringe benefits, restrictive policies, etc.
      If I see myself as a professional educator then focus on all the things SUU provides me to help in the accomplishment of my mission: students I do not have to recruit and bill, rent-free office and classrooms, computer, other equipment, great amount of freedom, etc.

My professional mission for the practicum (will do last class)

Empower students to become contributors without becoming victims of the predators and parasites; talk about my experiences in Massachusetts in which I saw naïve, sincere, dedicated former students exploited by unethical administrators and then end up totally burnt out within a few years.

 

 

 

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