Ethics Alive! Breaking Barriers Through Supererogation

by Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD

     When I was thinking about what to write for Social Work Month 2023, I wondered how the theme of “Breaking Barriers” could be related to social work ethics. What does it mean to go above and beyond—breaking barriers—in terms of ethics? What might it mean to do something so new or so grand that it rises above the ordinary expectations of professional behavior?

     Supererogation (yes, that is a real word) means conducting oneself in a manner that “goes beyond the call of duty” (Bibus, 2015; Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2019). Whereas compliance with the NASW Code of Ethics and generally accepted ethical principles amounts to “good ethical practice,” there may be times in our professional lives when we do things that are not only good or morally desirable, but also aspirational, if not heroic.

     Social work has been described as a value-based profession because of the centrality of social values such as respect, access to service, and social justice (Barsky, 2023). When social workers assist or advocate for people experiencing poverty, refugees fleeing violence, or people affected by mental illness, they are doing good. However, they are not necessarily going above and beyond their duty as social workers. Still, we may think of many situations in which social workers have transcended their basic duties, engaging in acts of supererogation. For example:

• During the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, before various vaccinations and treatments were available, many social workers continued to provide important services to clients despite the risks of contracting COVID-19.
• Many social workers have worked long into the evening or weekend (beyond their regular work hours) to ensure that clients in need received proper services.
• Courageous social work students have told truth to power, raising concerns about the unethical or illegal behaviors of administrators, supervisors, or government officials, even though it may have put their field placements at risk.
• Social workers have helped nurses, physicians, psychologists, and other professional colleagues by taking on responsibilities that are not ordinarily within their job descriptions, but are required to help the professional team serve clients or communities in an urgent situation.
• Social workers who have participated in social systems that have oppressed particular populations have apologized and made amends by supporting efforts to reform those systems.

     Yes, there are times when social workers have not risen to the occasion as we might have hoped. Yes, social workers should not be expected to sacrifice their lives, educations, or careers for the benefit of others. Still, when social workers do break barriers through acts of supererogation, we may acknowledge them, learn from them, support them, and be inspired by them.

     Happy Social Work Month. Thanks to all the wonderful social workers who do their duty with care and kindness, and to those who go above their duty with joy and moral courage.

P.S. What acts of supererogation have you engaged in or witnessed in others? (Please add your examples in the comments section.)

References

Barsky, A. E. (2023). Essential ethics for social work practice. Oxford University Press.

Bibus, A. (2015). Supererogation in social work: Deciding whether to go beyond the call of duty. Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics, 12(2), 27-40. https://jswve.org/download/2015-2/articles/27-40%20Supererogation%20in%20Social%20Work-JSWVE-12-2.pdf

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2019). Supererogation. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/supererogation

Allan Barsky, PhD, JD, MSW, is Professor of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University and author of  Social Work Values and Ethics (Oxford University Press).

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of any of the organizations to which the author is affiliated, or the views of  The New Social Worker magazine or White Hat Communications.