The final item on a company checklist

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 01/03/2023 (1119 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What’s your mental checklist when you start a new job?

Often, you’ll think about your new role and responsibilities, what goals the organization has, how you’ll help them achieve those objectives, and what you might receive in return. You may have to sort out transportation, parking, hours and access to the building. All these are tangible things that come part and parcel with spending a large percentage of your life in a new environment.

But what about the environment itself? One thing we often overlook is how you’ll be treated every day and how you’ll be expected to treat others.

The backbone of workplace culture is a company’s code of ethics. It’s a standard set of guidelines that employees and managers use to make day-to-day and larger decisions. These are core values that permeate the environment and affect both employees and customers. When a company sticks to a strong ethical code, the benefits are overwhelming.

Not only can it change the way people talk to and deal with each other, it also provides a basis for how the company operates. When this type of behaviour is established, it typically spreads and feeds into itself, creating a more positive culture for all.

Employees can feel more comfortable knowing they’ll be treated with respect, and that will help them treat each other the same way. An ethical code can also include open communication, which allows everyone to understand each other better, creating more cohesion within the company. Responsibility often forms another big part of many ethical codes. When individuals take responsibility for their mistakes (which happen, we’re all human), it helps the company move toward a solution faster with less frustration. Others may leave with sympathy rather than anger the situation arose in the first place.

Perhaps the best reward companies with a strong code of ethics reap is foundational relationships. Just as people who think and act ethically draw others to them, so do companies. The relationships companies cultivate with customers and employees will be stronger and longer if they maintain a high standard of ethics.

Not only does it set the tone for workplace manners, but it also provides a frame of reference when disputes do arise. A company that is dedicated to enforcing its code can ensure disagreements are solved in an ethical way, creating a fair way to work through it. Many companies have no framework to resolve arguments, or they’re not clear, creating confusion over what should be valued and how to move forward.

Codes of ethics also empower employees to hold their managers accountable, which can be a frightening prospect to some. But companies with strong management know responsibility and respect start at the top and are never afraid of inquisitive employees. They know if they act with integrity, they have nothing to fear and desire to give employees the peace of mind that comes with a defined code of ethics.

The Better Business Bureau helps organizations maintain codes of ethics and is an invaluable resource for companies seeking to cultivate a healthy workplace culture. For more information, visit bbb.org