Company ethics and standards can be learned and enforced across an organization, and there is a procedure for achieving this. Below are tips for creating a culture of ethics and organizational standards in your company.
Define the Company Ethics
Every company has spoken and unspoken rules on how employees can behave. Clear explanations of what is and what is not acceptable should be provided to guide behavior that is directed at other employees, customers, and the public. These guidelines are often different from company to company.
Provide Necessary Tools and Build Skills
It is the responsibility of the human resources department to enforce organizational ethics and standards by ensuring that employees are equipped with the adequate tools needed to behave ethically. For example, employees should have resources such as training, policies, and procedures that explain who they should consult if they have a question about what is considered appropriate conduct. Examples of inappropriate conduct should be provided so that they are able to avoid such behavior. Teaching employees about ethical behavior through focused training is more effective than merely providing a written policy. This provides employees concrete examples on how to conduct themselves professionally and ethically (Bhaswati B., 2016). It also allows for questions and answers.
Reinforce Desired Behavior
Strengthening the behavior of an employee is never an easy task. One of the simplest ways to reinforce ethical behavior is to recognize employees who behave according to the policy. To create a strong ethical culture in an organization, there must be regular communication about ethical values among employees. An organization can use these opportunities to specifically explain the behaviors they wish to inculcate in their employees.
An ethical organization has a greater chance of success than an unethical one because it will have earned a better reputation among internal and external consumers. Managers in an organization can inspire ethical practices within their company by performing all aspects of their job ethically. This motivates employees to adhere to the organization’s code of ethics in their day-to-day duties.