Who should assistants report unethical or illegal workplace conduct to?

Reporting unethical or illegal workplace conduct is crucial in maintaining the integrity and safety of the work environment. The most appropriate course of action involves informing the supervising SLP and/or the Board of Examiners.

The supervising SLP has the responsibility to oversee assistant practices and can take immediate action to address any unethical or illegal conduct observed within the workplace. Their role allows them to investigate the situation within the context of the specific practice and to implement corrective measures.

Moreover, reporting to the Board of Examiners is essential because they are tasked with regulating professional conduct within the field. They have the authority to enforce ethical standards and take disciplinary actions if necessary. This chain of reporting ensures that issues are handled by the appropriate authorities who have the necessary oversight and jurisdiction over such matters.

Addressing the other options, while Human Resources may be responsible for general workplace concerns and might be involved in some cases, the most direct and relevant reporting line for ethics violations specifically in the context of speech-language pathology involves the supervising SLP and the governing board. Colleagues sharing information about unethical behavior does not initiate the necessary formal processes to address the issue, and discussing it with the patient's family could violate patient confidentiality and trust. Therefore, reporting to the supervising SLP and/or the Board