Ethics Code Coursework Example

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Ethic codes
Ethic codes refer to principles that have been put in place by a company and are designed to assist professionals to conduct business activities in a way that supports integrity and honesty. Some of the elements that are documented in ethics code include ethical aspects that are derived from a company’s core values, the values and the mission of an organization and the methods that have to be implemented when handling problems (Investopedia n.p.). Ethics code also referred to as code of ethics may also include employee code of conduct and the code of professional practices.
An ethics code provides various benefits for a company. The ethics codes is an indicator that employees in a company are responsible. New employees are offered a platform that introduces them to the company’s standards and expectations. When the management team firmly adheres to the ethics code, a culture of consistency is developed among the employees in all departments of the company. Such affirmative influence spreads among the employees and promotes positive values within the organization.
Another reason to establish an ethics code is that it helps in prevent unintentional violations of ethics. Though the ethics code does not necessarily document matters that relate to illegalities, it addresses crucial aspects that affect the reputation, integrity, and profitability of a company. A well-documented ethics code sensitizes the employees on things that might not be very clear therefore helping the workers eliminate such confusion.

The ethics code also acts as a reference when enforcing corrective actions to violations or even when handling termination cases of workers that do not meet the standards entailed in the document. Even in situations where it is only a single worker who goes against the ethics code, the actions of the individual might significantly harm the company. However, precise expectations from the workers provide a solid base for identifying and addressing any arising problems (Nieweler n.p.). For the clients, the presence of an ethics code shows that the firm values integrity.
In most companies, it is the duty of the team leaders, and other members of top management to make sure that the staff members observe the ethics code. However, some firms appoint a compliance officer whose responsibility is to make sure all employees conform to both the internal policies and external regulations. Some of the duties of the compliance officer may include tasks such as evaluating facilities within a company to make sure they are safe or even setting simple standards for outside communication such as requiring disclaimers in emails. A compliance officer can also make changes to internal policies as a way of mitigating the risks of the workers breaking laws leading to violation of internal audits of procedures.
A compliance officer should have extensive knowledge of the organization they work for; this is necessary for predicting the various breaches of the ethics code that might take place. It is essential that the officer regularly reminds the employees the compliance regulations and ethics principles. In the event where there are regulatory changes or updates, the officer must organize training sessions to make sure that the employees adjust accordingly; this is most applicable in heightened environments where such changes are implemented consistently. The officer must work with other leaders from various departments and the management team to make sure that precaution measures are put in place and also guidelines on how to deal with compliance breaches.

Works Cited
Investopedia. “Code Of Ethics.” Investopedia. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Mar. 2018.
Nieweler, Amanda. “Four Reasons Your Business Needs A Code Of Ethics.” WhistleBlower Security. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Mar. 2018.