When contemplating labor strikes, what must social workers consider?

When social workers are contemplating labor strikes, the potential impacts on clients is a foremost consideration. Social workers have an ethical obligation to prioritize the well-being and needs of their clients above all else. Strikes may result in disruptions to services, affecting vulnerable populations who rely on these services for support, guidance, and stability.

By focusing on the potential impacts on clients, social workers can assess how their actions might create barriers to access or lead to negative outcomes, such as increased stress or harm, for those they serve. This aligns with the values of service, social justice, and the importance of client welfare embedded in the NASW Code of Ethics.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary responsibility of social workers to their clients. While delays in salaries, support from management, or peer pressure can be significant considerations within a labor context, they do not take precedence over the fundamental ethical duty to protect and advocate for clients.