Leaders need to ensure that the organisation’s ethical values are understood and followed. Having clear direction on ethics to be followed is also very important as it reduces organisation risk and enhances performance.
Ethics are essentially the moral guidelines that an organisation requires for all staff to follow. While workplace ethics may vary from industry to industry, there are common ethical values that would apply to most workplaces.
Ethical values are almost always contained in Code of Conducts and related procedures. Examples of ethical values are:
- Values in relation to workplace behaviour – for example, treating others with respect and expectations of whether relationships between staff are acceptable.
- Values in relation to gifts – for example, are staff allowed to accept gifts from customers.
- Values in relation to conflicts of interest – for example, what constitutes a conflict of interest and how it must be declared.
This video explores workplace ethics and ethical behavior. It emphasises the importance of leaders in promoting clear ethical values within organizations and outlines common ethical values found in workplaces. The concept of business ethics is introduced, highlighting its relevance to corporate conduct. Different ethical approaches like Utilitarianism and the Rights Approach are discussed. Additionally, the video underscores the significance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in promoting ethical and socially responsible business practices, which improve brand perception, attract talent, and appeal to investors.