Essay Example on Cultivating an Ethical Organization: Benefits of Establishing a Code of Ethics

It is apparent that every organization needs to operate in a way that everybody feels part of the organization. As such, the code of ethics is a guide of principles that outlines the ethical principles that govern the behavior and decision making in an organization. Its purpose is to give employees an outline of how they should behave and guidance on how issues such as conflicts, safety, and harassment can be handled. These principles are also instilled into employees to prevent misguided conduct, quality, and professional integrity. Regardless of the organization, the code of ethics serves as the guide since ethical issues can originate from anywhere at any time. Even though these principles seem like a significant tool of the organization, some critics feel that the code of ethics is meaningless and banal that does not carry any obligation. They argue that if it is developed jointly by all stakeholders, and if it is not reviewed and revised in the face of new experiences and changing circumstances, then it is of no value to the organization.

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To begin with, the code of ethics can be grouped into two categories, a value-based and compliance-based code of ethics. A value-based code of ethics hugely relates to the core value system of the organization. This implies that it outlines the responsible conduct standards as they relate to the environment and the larger public good. Thus, these codes may need a greater degree of self-regulation than other codes. According to Adelstein and Clegg (2016) a value-based code of ethics may also contain language that incorporates both values and compliance (Adelstein & Clegg, 2016). For instance, a banking business might come up with a code of ethics that espouses the organization's commitment to safety and health regulations more than revenue and profits. On the other hand, a compliance-based code of ethics not only outlines the conduct guidelines but also put forward the penalties for violations of these principles. In some sectors, such as finance, specific regulations govern business conduct. These principles are a compliance-based code of ethics which are implemented in the pursuit of enforcing regulations and laws. In most cases, employees undergo formal training where they are taught the codes of ethics since noncompliance can bring up legal issues for the whole company. To make sure that the principles and guidelines are dully followed, established organizations employ a compliance officer to monitor employee conduct and keeping up to date with changes in regulation codes. However, despite the strict adherence to the law, some of these codes of ethics do not encourage an environment of moral responsibility in the organization.

Promoting green business practices is one of the main code of ethics in our organization. This is of the value-based codes of ethics, which aims at promoting green and environmentally sounds business practices. Some of the practices encouraged by the organization in regards to green practices include recycling and energy saving. For instance, recycle bins have been placed at strategic places such as photocopiers to encourage employees to dispose of wastes in recycling containers (Parker, 2017). Additionally, in regards to energy saving, the management reminds employees to switch off lights and computers whenever they are not in use. The organization also encourages the use of natural daylight whenever possible by opening blinds and clearing windows to let in as much natural light as possible (Davies, 2016). These measures often have beneficial implications for any organization in the long run since they help in reducing production costs and improve the company's reputation to the public. Thus, the firm urges all employees to uphold these codes of ethics as they reflect on the organization's corporate culture, which aims at operating a profitable business at the same time taking care of the environment.

Even though it proves its value during the crisis rather than good business periods, many people doubt that the management often expect employees to adhere to the set code of ethics of it means reducing productivity or losing the business. One of the main arguments against the code of ethics is that it is generally an opportunistic public relations and marketing tool. On the other hand, adhering to moral conduct is essential for the long term productivity of the business and staying in business. Thus, the code of ethics is not of interest to every organization. Additionally, Cleek and Leonard (1998) suggest that an industry that holds dear its ethical principles would take actions against any organization that fails to abide by the considerations since, in the long run, it would hurt its reputation in the market.

Conclusion

In summation, Even though the organization is doing a great job in encouraging green business practices, there are other strategies that can be employed in the bid to become more environmentally friendly. I would recommend the organization to venture into virtual staffing where staff works remotely. As such, employees do not have not to have to travel to work stations as they can do their work from their own locations. The approach can reduce energy usage and pollution as it discourages workers from traveling to work in their cars or public means, which use fuel. The organization can also go paperless, which entails ditching the use of papers, especially in this digital era, where everything can be done online.

References

Adelstein, J., & Clegg, S. (2016). Code of ethics: A stratified vehicle for compliance. Journal of Business Ethics, 138(1), 53-66.

Cleek, M. A., & Leonard, S. L. (1998). Can corporate codes of ethics influence behavior?. Journal of business ethics, 17(6), 619-630.

Davies, P. W. (2016). Current issues in business ethics. Routledge.

Parker, D. B. (2017). Rules of ethics in information processing. In Computer Ethics (pp. 17-20). Routledge.