Employee ethics are a set of principles that forms the rules of conduct for a group of people, such as a business. Ethics focuses on day-to-day behavior and decision-making. Employee ethics apply to people at all levels of the organization and help to determine the success of the organization.
Why Are Ethics Important?
There is a lot of data that supports the importance of workplace ethics. Ethical businesses are more successful than their industry competitors. In addition, companies with strong ethics programs, such as Patagonia, Ford Motor Company, and Microsoft. Examples of ethical behavior in the workplace include respecting all of one's colleagues, customers, and vendors, choosing to work with suppliers that source materials responsibly, and complying with the company's code of conduct policy.
Defining Unethical Behavior
Unethical employee behaviors often include taking home office supplies, overreporting hours worked or miles driven for business, and taking excessive breaks or sick days. Using company technology for personal reasons is another form of unethical behavior. Promoting and supporting the importance of workplace ethics reduces these behaviors.
Ethical Behavior Categories
There are four recognized categories of ethical behavior. These are:
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Ethical leadership applies to the decisions each person makes in his daily work. For example, an employee deliberately withholding important information from management is committing an unethical act.
Ethical relations involve open, honest communication and respectful conflict resolution. Refraining from gossiping and not taking credit for the work of others are examples of ethical behavior in the workplace. Ethical controls involve compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and safety standards.
Support Ethical Behavior
Organizations should encourage and support ethical behavior. Employers can start this process by establishing a code of conduct and training employees in it at their new employee orientations. To maintain employee compliance, employers can conduct periodic employee ethics refresher training.
Create a Code of Conduct
A formal code of ethics - often called a code of conduct, details acceptable and unacceptable behaviors and serves as the foundation for an organization’s ethics support activities. Typically, a code of ethics requires honest, respectful behavior, avoidance of conflicts of interests, compliance with laws and regulations, and reporting of ethics violations without fear of retaliation.
