Abstract

When discussing ethics and the role of HRD, it is important to distinguish between two different but interrelated aspects. The first aspect, which we call “ethical talent development,” relates to the ethical conduct of HRD professionals, i.e., the need for HRD professionals to act ethically in their talent development work. The HRD Standards on Ethics and Integrity exemplify this aspect. As a code of ethics and an integrity statement, these HRD Standards guide professional practice and the conduct of scholars, consultants, evaluators, and practitioners in the field. The second aspect, which we call “development of ethical talent,” concerns the HRD professionals’ role in fostering individuals’ ethical behavior and building ethical organizations. In this chapter, we introduce these two aspects critical for the HRD profession. We discuss the relevant literature on ethics in HRD to underscore the value of each aspect and propose a framework for a caring HRD practice. We argue for the importance of this approach to ethical issues in furthering HRD scholarship and preparation of HRD professionals. This chapter advances our understanding of ethics in HRD and highlights how HRD professionals could address ethical issues in their work.