Ethics are defined as moral principles that govern the behaviour of individuals, guiding their conduct in every aspect of their lives, including at workplace. Creating an ethical and transparent business culture can improve business profitability by developing a strong positive image for the brand and attracting and retaining the best talent. Every individual possesses an inherent understanding of what constitutes the right conduct at the workplace, varying cultural and personal backgrounds influence their implementation. To ensure consistency in understanding and practice across all levels, organizations often establish frameworks and policies to shape work practices, interactions, and behaviour within an organization. The following are some common principles in the corporate/work ethics and compliance policy can build a strong foundation of trust upon which an ethical workplace can be built-
- Integrity- This is one of the crucial components of workplace ethics. Being honest and doing the right thing under all circumstances forges trust and wins over the confidence of all stakeholders.
- Transparency- Transparency ensures that employees have easy access to information crucial to their job profiles. Open discussions on major developments are important to win employee trust.
- Respect- Respectful behaviour lift the spirits of employees by making them feel valued and appreciated. It creates a sense of fairness and equity and reduces workplace stress.
- Professionalism- Professional conduct of employees makes a significant impact on the reputation of organization/individual.
- Teamwork- Working together as a team towards common business goals is imperative for organizational success. Employees must take actions that are beneficial for their team as a whole.