A business ethical code of conduct guides employees faced with ethical dilemmas.
Most formal organizations have an ethical code of conduct for employees. This code of conduct provides an overview of ethical expectations for employees. It also directly or indirectly communicates the organization's ethical intentions to the market.
Features
An ethical code aids employees in making tough ethical decisions. Company codes give directives on areas like doing business responsibly, honestly and in line with company commitments. Some departments have codes that apply directly to sales, service, IT or other role-specific ethical areas.
Effects
Companies often post ethical codes of conduct on websites and in other marketing collateral. This serves as communication to prospective employees, but it also communicates to customers and clients that a company realizes its ethical obligations in doing business.
Benefits
A well-written and communicated ethical code provides a foundation for employees who need to understand the importance of ethics to the organization. It sends the message that top management supports proper ethics. It also is useful for companies that must enforce ethics through discipline or termination.
Tags: code conduct, ethical code, doing business, employees also