Question

Do professionals who do good works as part of their professions have an obligation to do voluntary service? What are the obligations of all citizens to give back to their communities? Are there conflicts of interest that may arise in the types of community service that professionals choose?

Answer 1

Answer: Yes, the professionals who do good work as a part of their profession also have an obligation to do voluntary social work. This is because that apart from being professionals they are also citizens of the country. Their professional and personal obligations are therefore different and hence even if they have fulfilled their professional duty of doing good work as a part of their work. Their personal responsibility as a citizen remains.

As a part of the community we not only have certain rights but we also have certain obligations. In our daily works and activities we use a number of resources that collectively belong to all the members of the community. As a part of the community we have the right to use them and also as the part of the community it is the obligation of every citizen to give back to the community in return of resources that we use. Hence in the community it is our responsibility to give back what we receive in form of cooperation and responsibility towards the community.

At times when the professional choose some type of community service that will directly or indirectly profit their business then a conflict of interest may arise. The professionals should therefore not try to benefit professionally from the community service work they undertake.