My recent article, "Your code of conduct looks great, but what does it do?", published in CEP Magazine dives into the components of a code of conduct your organization should implement to truly make it impactful. Read an excerpt of the article below.
When it comes to your code of conduct, looks are important. You want your code to be attractive so people will want to read it. Using photos, color, and layout will help your readers connect with your code on a deeper level. But there’s more to it than that.
At its heart, the purpose of your code of conduct is to affect behavior — to reinforce good behavior and discourage bad behavior — so your organization can achieve positive outcomes and thrive over the long haul. How does a code do that? I’d like to suggest three ways: inspire, guide, and enable.
Your code of conduct should inspire your colleagues to do the right thing by tying the code to your organization’s purpose and shared values. The code should guide employees by explaining how values are the key to achieving your purpose and business objectives. Finally, your code of conduct should enable all associates to identify ethics and compliance risks, understand the controls in place to manage those risks, and make them feel comfortable raising concerns and asking questions.
If interested in learning more, you can read the full article in CEP Magazine.
For more resources to help your organization create effective codes of conduct, click here, or watch the short video below for more insights.
Copyright 2019 CEP Magazine, a publication of the Society for Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE).
