Duty of Care
Table of Contents
If roles flipped, reasonable protection from harm is the bar owed to people under you.
Key Concept
- Duty of care owes people the protection you would expect if roles were reversed - not the minimum the handbook allows.
- Duty of care is the legal and moral floor, not a target to hit exactly and stop.
- Stop serious harm first; reasonable protection is not optional because paperwork says so.
Level 1 - Recognize
Duty of care is the protection you owe people under you - reasonable safety, not the minimum the handbook allows.
Level 2 - Explain
Reverse the camera before you sign off on risk. What protection would you expect in their seat, like holding a door you would want held.
Level 3 - Use
Before you sign off on a risk, ask what protection you would expect in their seat. Handbook minimum is not the target.
Level 4 - Connect
Stop serious harm first - reasonable protection is not optional just because paperwork allows less. Ethical Leadership makes the floor match what you would accept reversed.
Level 5 - Create
Build a care standard the team can run without guesswork - name the protection, owner, check, and stop-work line before harm tests it.
Examples
- The clinic keeps a crash cart checked every shift - glad reasonable protection still matters when staff assume risk on the floor.
- We do not leave the toddler pool gate open because kids might run - duty of care is active watching even when signs say be careful.
Note Relationships
| Relationship | Wikilink | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| contradicts | Outcomes Over Pitch Decks | when the opposite frame fits better |
| extends | Develop, Don't Endanger | Develop people without trading away reasonable protection |
| extends | Life Before Achievement | Achievement does not shrink the care you owe |
| implements | Safety Comes First | Stopping harm is duty of care in motion |
