Code of Conduct
What, Why & When
What: The Code of Conduct is a written statement used in different circumstances to formalize the working procedures and expectations of individuals in a specific organization. "A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the norms, rules, and responsibilities or proper practices of an individual party or an organisation (Wikipedia)."
Why: It is oftentimes used in companies to set out certain rules and the respective responsibilities of their employers and employees and can be used to hold both accountable for their actions.It is usually laid out in a written format.
When: Ideally a Code of Conduct is created before the intentional formation of a specific organization. This helps to explicitly clarify expectations, roles and responsibilities of each individual. As many organizations change over time this Code of Conduct should be iterated frequently to prove if it still fits the organizational purpose.
Pro's & Con's
Rezaee et al. (2001): "There is considerable debate about the nature, scope, and effect of codes of conduct. Codes ofconduct are seen as making a clear distinction as to what is permissible and what is not, and informing employees of actions that will land them in trouble (Gellerman, 1989). They also can help restore public trust, provide guidance, and be a source of professional identity and reference (Dobel, 1993).Codes of conduct, on the other hand are criticized as “. . . becoming a panacea for problems that they cannot solve . . .” which “. . . could contribute to the cynicism and distrust they are supposed to address (Dobel, 1993, p. 158)”.
Goal(s)
Getting started
The creation of a Code of Conduct should incorporate two aspects. (1) The topical points (2) procedural points
1. Topical points to include in your Code of Conduct
- ethical principles - includes workplace behaviour and respect for all people
- values - includes an honest, unbiased and unprejudiced work environment
- accountability - includes taking responsibility for your own actions, ensuring appropriate use of information, exercising diligence and duty of care obligations and avoiding conflicts of interest
- standard of conduct - includes complying with the job description, commitment to the organisation and proper computer, internet and email usage
- standard of practice - includes current policies and procedures and business operational manual
- disciplinary actions - includes complaints handling and specific penalties for any violation of the code.
2. procedural points for creating and iterating your Code of Conduct
Make sure everyone within the organization is able to express their opinion on roles, responsiblities and expectations. These questions could help for starting an open discussions about organizational values and how to formalize them:
- What does ethics mean to you?
- How effectively does the business put its values into practice?
- Can we improve our ethical performance?
- What do you think of the draft ethical guidelines?
- Would this code of conduct help you make decisions?
- How could it be more helpful?
- Is there anything else we should include?
(Based on Queensland Government Article, see link below)
Links & Further reading
Quick youtube explanation of a Code of Conduct
Guidance on what to include in a Code of Conduct
