Companies with strong business ethics have better long term success than those solely focused on profits. Recent scandals highlight the need for workplaces to strengthen ethics training for employees. Training programs help build professionalism and increase productivity. Some key workplace ethics include punctuality, responsibility, professionalism, teamwork and attitude. Written codes of conduct and leadership by example are effective ways to communicate ethical standards to employees and encourage ethical decision making.

1. Ethics in the Workplace
Companies which follow certain business ethics have better chances of survival, as compared with the
ones whose only goal is to make profits, even if they have to make several compromises to achieve their
goals.
The recent cases of scandals, frauds and irregularities make it mandatory that ethics in the workplace
make a strong comeback. While businesses focus on profitability and success, it is imperative to train
employees to be ethical. Training in ethics helps build a strong team and foster professionalism amongst
employees, thereby increasing work productivity.
Work ethics is like invisible employee behavior, noticeable by its absence. Some common workplace ethics
include:
• Punctuality: Arriving to work on time, adhering to lunch and breaks on time and being absent for
valid reasons.
• Responsibility: Utilizing work time to complete tasks and deadlines and not for personal work.
• Professional image: Be well dressed and adhere to the company dress code.
• Teamwork: Respect others and work well together and be a good team player.
• Attitude: Being pleasant and polite, and take on difficult tasks smilingly.
Employees, who have strong ethics in personal and professional life, need no explanation, unlike those
employees for whom work ethics is a growing problem. So, how do you train them to be ethical to one and
all, whether in the professional realm or personal?
• A written code of conduct: This clearly defines ethics to be maintained in an organization. Each
employee should have one, including new hires. The aim of defining and writing a code of conduct
is to let employees know what is acceptable and unacceptable.
• Training programs: Besides developing goals for the upcoming year, organizations should focus
on training in ethics at the workplace. A few members from the top level management can lead the
ethics training programs. Such initiatives will stress the fact that employees must cultivate and
adhere to the ethics code at the workplace.
• Role model: If your employees have a role model in you, it would be easier for them to adhere to
the company’s code of conduct and ethics. Seniors behaving in a morally upright manner will set
an example for employees to follow.
And finally, it is essential to communicate ethical values and a code of conduct to employees as you are
giving them the authority to take appropriate ethical decision in any given situations.
Do share your thoughts with me on the same.
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