A professional code of ethics tells the public and your employees what your company stands for and values, and how it intends to operate. A business ethics code also ensures all employees use the same approach for everything from dealing with clients and customers to creating new policies. Codes of ethics in business often share a similar structure, and there will likely be principles common to all codes no matter what industry or size of company they're from. However, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to creating business codes of ethics, so training can help you write a code specific to your organization. Training can also help you teach your employees about ethics and about following your company ethics code.

Codes of ethics education and training options include:

1. Training in your industry's ethical standards
2. Implementing company-wide ethics training
3. Hiring a consultant to train you in writing a company code of ethics
   

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Take business ethics codes training specific to your industry

Before you write a code of ethics for your company or organization, receive training in the ethical standards for your industry. You can use these as a framework for your group's guidelines.

I recommend: The National Association of REALTORS offers an online codes of ethics course which is required for all association members. The course takes approximately two and half hours, and can be completed all at once or in sections. The National Association of Social Workers, through its Office of Ethics and Professional Review, will develop and provide customized ethics training to its chapters -- for free.

Use employee ethics training to ensure your staff understands and follows your ethics code

Help your staff understand every aspect of creating and following a code of ethics by providing company-wide ethics training. With online training, you can easily deliver the content to each person in your organization.

I recommend: Brightline Compliance offers online ethics training and workplace employee compliance training through its Code of Conduct course. The course is customized for each business and employee, starting with a risk assessment by Brightline's attorneys, who will your company's ethics code of conduct. Global Compliance also offers online ethics training courses that start with a risk analysis for your company and customized training materials.

Hire a consultant to provide training in writing professional codes of ethics

For more in-depth and intensive instruction, you can hire an ethics consultant to assist you in writing an ethics code. They can evaluate your current code, if you have one, and tell you how to make it stronger. If you don't already have a code of ethics, a consultant can help you determine what principles are at the core of your organization's ethical standards.

I recommend: The Ethical Leadership Group handles every aspect of creating an ethics code and structure at your organization, including assessment, communications, training and strategy. The Josephson Institute Center for Business Ethics provides consulting and training in corporate ethics.

With so many corporate scandals making headlines, developing a code of ethics at your organization can protect you from legal and moral quandaries and ensures that all employees follow the same guiding principles. Business codes of ethics aren't just for multi-national corporations who serve millions of customers each year, they're necessary for any company that touches the lives of others, whether that includes customers, vendors, investors or employees.

Codes of ethics in business can bring your team together for a shared purpose—thereby improving morale as well as improving your image, enhancing your relationships and setting you apart from your competitors. Things to consider when writing a code of ethics:

1. The purpose of the ethics code — to set up a formal set of procedures, for example, or to inspire employees to act more ethically.
2. The process for writing the code — by committee, or by top leadership?
3. How the code will be enforced.
4. How often the code will be reviewed and, if necessary, revised.
   

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Identify the ethical standards most important to your organization

Before you can state to the world what your ethical standards are, you need to pinpoint your company's goals and vision. Invest some time in evaluating your company's current ethical style and identifying its intended direction for the future. This will help guide the creation of a business code of ethics you'll be proud to present to the public.

I recommend: Identify your ethical style with a quiz from the Center for Ethics and Business. Then learn how to create a mission statement at MindTools.

Find online models of business ethics codes

What makes a successful code of ethics? A look at the ethical standards of socially responsible and respected corporations can provide inspiration for your organization's ethics code.

I recommend: Search the Codes of Ethics Index at the Illinois Institute of Technology, or download the Statement of Values and Code of Ethics for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Organizations from Independent Sector.

Research the ethical standards for your industry

Your company's code of ethics will depend largely on what kind of product or service you provide and the target market you serve. Your industry's professional associations may have their professional codes of ethics that you can use as a starting point for your own company code of ethics.

I recommend: Check out the ethics codes for professional associations like the Direct Selling Association, the National Association of Realtors, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or the International Webmasters Association. Or consult your local or national professional or industry association.

Support your ethical standards with employee ethics training

Providing your employees with ethics training ensures they're not just following your directions, but can also evaluate the ethics and morality of an action or decision on their own. You can use ethics training for the creation of your business ethics code, to strengthen the ethics skills of your leaders, or to educate your entire team. And, ethics training is flexible, available as on-site seminars or workshops, or through online classes or videos and DVDs.

I recommend: Global Ethics University offers ethics training kits you can use to create an in-house ethics training program, in addition to online and on-site training. Register for a demo course. Redhawk offers online ethics training, and will adapt it for other languages and cultures.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Give your code of ethics the same importance you do other company rules, whether it's an anti-discrimination policy or customer service procedures; make sure employees know your ethics code will be enforced just as strictly.
• •  Use your ethics code as just the first step in creating a moral and ethical corporate culture. Set up an ethics committee to oversee your ethical standards, and to which employees can report ethics violations. Also, maintain an ongoing discussion about company ethics, through quarterly or monthly meetings or brainstorming sessions, for example.

Building a strong code of ethics for your business is a firm foundation that can keep everyone in check, energize employees and build a model of trust and faith in your business that other companies tend to lack in this day and age. Your code of ethics becomes part of the public face of your business, and it should affect each and every employee that you pay on your staff. Find out more about the following key terms: ethics, Sarbanes-Oxley, compliance, mission statement/vision statement, values statement and social responsibility.

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Ethics

Ethics is a branch of philosophy concerned with morality and immorality.

I recommend: The Center for Ethics and Business at Loyola Marymount University has a wide range of material on ethics.

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, a federal law, provided updated standards for all U.S. public company boards. It was designed as a measure to avoid the major corporate and accounting scandals that had rocked the country a few years prior to the signing of the act.

I recommend: Check out the Guide To The Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Compliance

Compliance is the act of abiding by the laws and regulations that oversee an industry.

I recommend: Look at the weekly edition of the Ethics & Compliance Officer Association News.

Mission statement, vision statement

Mission statements and visions statements are the words chosen by leaders to inspire others on the direction of the organization.

I recommend: Learn about mission statements and vision statements, as well as how to write them, from Mind Tools.

Values statement

A company's values statement reflects its priorities in regards to how the members of the organization act within their group and to their public. It's an establishment of the culture of the organization.

I recommend: Work on developing your vision statement with the Free Management Library.

Social responsibility

Social responsibility centers around the idea that the entity at whatever level (business, group, individual, etc.) has a responsibility to society. Goals for business can include such things as quality of life for employees, social investment and overall impact on the community and/or world around them.

I recommend: Learn more about social responsibility from Business for Social Responsibility

Everyone likes equal treatment, and businesses design professional codes of ethics to make sure employees and customers are treated well. While there is no ethical standard that crosses all professions, you can find a business ethics code for just about every type of job.

Because there is no industry standard for all businesses, if you change jobs you may feel like you are learning codes of ethics for beginners all over again. There are some areas of ethical standards that you do find in all areas of business. While this list is not all-inclusive, some of the common standards include:

1. Fair dealing and ethical standards with customers.

2. Codes of ethics for customer confidentiality.

3. Business ethics codes that relate to conflicts of interest.

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Familiarize yourself with business codes of ethics

Look at the standard business code of ethics for your particular business. It's something you might have studied in college. You probably learned more about it during job orientation. Take your studies a step farther by looking outside your profession to what other professions hold as standards of ethical behavior.

I recommend: You can get a free guide to business codes of ethics from Authenticity Consulting. This is a good place to start your codes of ethics for beginners training if necessary. Sharon Stroeger has an extensive listing of articles that pertain to codes of ethics in business.

Receive business codes of ethics training

Whether you're the boss or an employee, everyone should have basic training in business ethic codes particular to their profession. You can have someone do the training in house, or you can hire professional consultants to come and do the training for you. With today's technology, there are also online and video options as well.

I recommend: Download sample lessons from the employee ethics training kit available from Character Training. You can choose from facilitator-led training, DVD training or online code of ethics training. Brightline Compliance offers professional code of ethics training prepared by former Department of Justice lawyers.

Write your own business ethics codes for your business

Take the standard codes for your profession and adapt them into your company code of ethics. Make sure everyone on staff is familiar with them. In order to help the employees feel like they 'own' the code, involve them in writing it as well. Take pride in your ethical standards and let your customers see what you are trying to accomplish.

I recommend: Find professional codes of ethics listing in the compilation created by the Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at the Illinois Institute of Technology. In addition to its business ethics codes, it also has instructions on how to create your own company code of ethics. Another good source is EthicsWeb.