Legality is important, but it doesn’t define workplace ethics. Ethical behaviors can be identified in both individual relationships and work relationships. 3 min readEthics are important within any industry, but the practice of law requires an extremely high standard of ethical behavior from its members. When managers are respectful to their staff they are able to develop a trusting relationship that encourages ethical behavior. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. You measure employee performance and sales. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Employees observe and copy the behavior of their team leaders, managers and organizational leadership. d. Rites and rituals. Create a corporate culture in which employees feel free to … If employees in a company make an agreement to treat each other more ethically, such as by refraining from certain kinds of office politics, the workplace will not only be a more amicable place, but also will, in most cases, be more productive. It is important for managers to focus on accomplishing company goals while developing good relationships in the workplace but it is equally important to focus on ethical conduct among employees. Include regulatory codes, but don’t let them define the company’s ethics. (4) The challenge of employee motivation and commit ment. Communicating the code of ethics: The preliminary step to promote ethical behavior among employees is by establishing a code of ethics. How could your company become susceptible of fostering unethical behavior among its employees? Allowing staff to use role-playing to demonstrate what types of behavior are considered unethical (and should be reported) is an excellent tool to reinforce your code. Fosters integrity and respect Ethical behavior fosters a working environment of integrity based on respect. If top management is perceived to act unethical, it is seen as a licence by others to do the same. There are certain ways of encouraging ethical behavior among employees. 2. Encouraging and crediting ethical behavior will encourage other employees to exhibit similar behavior that will, in the process, uplift the company. How Ethical Behavior is Encouraged There are certain ways of encouraging ethical behavior among employees. These are the following: Adaption of a code of ethics; Institution of rewards and punishments concerning ethical behavior; Adaption of internal programs of resolving conflicts; Creation of ethics review committees; Provision of training in ethics for employees; and Top management support. However, set your standards beyond safety codes. Email* Lead 14 Highly Effective Ways to Motivate Employees Your employees may not be as motivated as you are. As may owners have discovered at their own expense, it starts with stealing things like pens and paper and grows from there. Corporate indiscretion, wrongdoing, and corruption are perpetually the subject of media attention as well-known companies such as Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, and most recently the News of the World, have been found guilty of unlawful behavior; and the U.S. economic crisis has in part been blamed on unethical … The ethics of your organization affect your reputation, clients, employees and overall success. ... (“Importance of Ethical Behavior Among Employees. Last Name* c. Success. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If employees in a company make an agreement to treat each other more ethically, such as by refraining from certain kinds of office politics, the workplace will not only be a more amicable place, but also will, in most cases, be more productive. It’s important to create ethical standards of excellence and reward employees who follow these standards. Therefore, many managers enroll their employees in an ethics training program. What Does Ethical Behavior Mean? Workers or employees are the most important stakeholders of a company. Your employees look to the behavior of top management as a model of what’s acceptable behavior in the workplace. A code of ethics is a written guide to acceptable and ethical behavior that outlines uniform policies, standards and punishments for violations. Those who supervise others must consistently demonstrate all four categories of ethical behavior. By David M. Mayer . This all starts at the top. A strong sense of ethics in the workplace can improve a company in a variety of ways, both internally and externally. Such codes are perhaps the most effective way to encourage ethical behavior. Companies need to establish a link between ethical behavior and appropriate use of resources. Here are some ways for organizations to encourage ethical behavior. Performance targets of any type – including ethics targets – can create pressures to cut corners and aggressively pursue goals. This article has been viewed 46,060 times. As the head of a law firm, you have a responsibility to not only ensure your own ethical behavior, but also to promote principled practices within your practice. Remember, however, that a code of ethics is worthless if top management fails to model ethical behaviors. b. By encouraging ethical behavior the business is also protecting itself against fraud by team members who might see something going on at the top of the organization and take their own actions to get a share of the spoils. 2. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Communicating the code of ethics: The preliminary step to promote ethical behavior among employees is by establishing a code of ethics. Employees generally follow the examples set forth for them by management. They should also have a clear understanding of the ramifications if they fail to behave ethically. When evaluating candidates during the hiring process, you should consider their values and whether they fit into the company’s vision. Putting these values into practice starts at the top, and executive officers must set the tone for the rest of the company. The most encouraging news in the new ERC study is that a robust ethical culture means less pressure Managers could also implement a system where employees can anonymously submit examples of their colleagues behaving ethically. Expectations Ensure that your company states its values in the employee handbook and that these values are talked about and implemented in everyday business matters by all employees in a supervisory capacity. Ethical behavior is acting in ways that is consistent with how the business world views moral principles and values. Overall, although grouped in different ways, the existing literature sorts the effects and actions of leaders in relation to ethics into two groups: those emanating from the nature and behavior of the leader as a person, encouraging emulation, and those arising from the systems and practices that they set up to regulate conduct on their behalf. Having codes and policies in place that address ethics is not enough. 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