Professional Ethics & Standards Flashcards

When a CHA professional becomes aware of a potential data breach affecting guest personal information, the FIRST step should be:

Answer: Immediately notify IT security, management, and follow breach notification protocols

Prompt notification and following established breach protocols is required by law and by professional ethics standards.

The ethical obligation of 'informed consent' in hospitality most commonly applies to:

Answer: Clearly communicating terms, fees, and policies before guests commit to a booking

Informed consent requires that guests have full, clear information about what they are agreeing to before completing a transaction.

A hotel HR director implements a policy that inadvertently disadvantages employees of a particular ethnicity. Under CHA ethics standards, this is classified as:

Answer: Disparate impact discrimination, which must be corrected

Disparate impact occurs when a neutral policy disproportionately harms a protected group; CHA standards require identifying and correcting such policies.

Which statement BEST reflects the CHA standard on whistleblower protection?

Answer: Organizations must protect employees who report ethical violations in good faith from retaliation

CHA ethical standards align with legal protections requiring organizations to protect employees who report misconduct in good faith.

A catering manager discovers that a competitor is using the same exclusive vendor the manager recently negotiated with, suggesting the vendor may have shared proprietary pricing information. The ethical response is to:

Answer: Document the concern, investigate through proper channels, and consult legal counsel if needed

Proper investigation and legal consultation ensures the response is proportionate, accurate, and legally defensible.

Under AH&LA ethical standards, how should a manager handle a situation where a loyal employee requests a promotion they are not yet qualified for?

Answer: Deny the promotion based on qualifications and provide a clear development path

Fair and merit-based promotion decisions, paired with development guidance, respect both the employee and organizational standards.

Which behavior MOST exemplifies the CHA standard of 'professional responsibility to the industry'?

Answer: Mentoring emerging hospitality professionals and contributing to industry knowledge

Mentoring and sharing knowledge elevates the entire industry, reflecting the CHA's commitment to collective professional growth.