What is an Employee Code of Conduct?

What Your Code of Conduct Is Not

It is not meant to replace your office policies and procedures. Your Code of Conduct is not a contract or employment agreement. Nor does it create any contractual rights between your company and its employees, or create any express or implied promise for specific treatment in any specific situation. But it is intended to support your employment agreements.

Your Code of Conduct Is Your Ethical Standard

Your Code of Conduct communicates that unethical business conduct, actions or even the appearance of unethical behavior is unacceptable under any conditions. The reputation of your company depends on each employee applying common sense in situations where specific rules of conduct are insufficient to provide clear direction. A strong sense of personal ethics, which should extend beyond compliance with applicable laws, is necessary to guide the behavior of all employees.

All employees should comply with the ethical standards of your company as set forth in your business Code of Conduct. If a situation feels awkward, then the employees should ask themselves:

Is my action legal and ethical?
Does my action comply with corporate policy?
Is my action appropriate in the situation?
Would my action be an embarrassment to the company, if known?
Does my action agree with my personal ethics or behavior?

An employee should be able to answer “yes” to all of these questions before taking action or compromising themselves in the situation.

Employee Code of Conduct Outline

Your Code of Conduct program can be as simple as a one page responsibility statement for a small company (i.e. do no wrong) to an entire governance program including a full time ethics manager, staff or office. For those looking to create a larger ethics program then there are six areas to include:

1. General Business Conduct and Practices

Accuracy, Retention, and Destruction of Business Records and Documents
Financial Integrity, Fair Dealing, and Insider Trading
Use and Protection of Company Assets
Non-disclosure and Confidentiality
Patents, Trademarks, Trade Secrets, and Copyrights
Use of Electronic Media
Shareholder, Public, and Media Relations
Political Contributions and Activities

2. Employment Practices Conduct

Mutual Respect and Privacy
Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity
Safety and Health
Substance Abuse
Harassment and Workplace Violence

3. Conflicts of Interest

Employing or Dealing with Family Members
Outside Business Interests and Ownership
Outside Employment
Giving, Accepting, and Soliciting Gifts and Entertainment

4. Compliance with Laws, Rules, and Regulations

Antitrust
Environmental Practices and Protection
Advertising, Sales, and Marketing
Obtaining Competitive Information

5. Relationships with Subcontractors, Suppliers, and Vendors

Vendor Selection
Vendor Confidentiality

6. Code of Conduct Administration

Resources for Obtaining Guidance
Reporting Questionable Behavior and Possible Violations
Code of Conduct Waivers and Enforcement
Incident Handling and Investigation
Personal Responsibility Statement

Your Code of Conduct Program

Your Employee Code of Conduct program can be as simple as a one page responsibility statement for a small company to an entire governance program. It is in the best interest of your company and its stakeholders that you adopt and implement a Business Code of Conduct to help ensure compliance with applicable standards, laws and regulations.

Business owners and Managers are responsible for the ethical business conduct and behavior of their employees. Managers should consider the appropriate courses of action in terms of both ethical and economic factors. Each decision should be based on the guidelines provided in your Code of Conduct as well as their own personal beliefs of what’s right and wrong.

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