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How can I encourage ethics outside of training?

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First of all, remember that most employees want to be ethical. Employees want to know that their organization does the right thing, that it does not put profits above people. With that in mind, it should generally be easy to encourage ethical behavior at work. Employees already have the motivation to be ethical; all you need to do is give them the tools and information to make ethical decisions.

If your company doesn�t already have one, consider putting together a Code of Ethics or a Code of Conduct. Cover some of the most common ethical decisions faced on the job, from the smallest to the biggest. Then make it available to employees to ask for feedback and questions. It is important to keep your finger on the pulse of your company�s ethical heartbeat. Ask employees (anonymously if necessary) how ethical they think the company is. Provide outlets for employees to report unethical conduct without fear of retaliation.

At times, you may be faced with reports of unethical behavior, and you will be the one deciding how to handle the offense. What if it is your leading salesman or top producer that is the offender? The Conference Board found that less than eighteen percent of companies fire great performers who don�t live up to company values while twenty-five percent work with the offender on how to improve. Each case is different, but your company may need a general policy on how it will handle unethical behavior on the job.

Finally, and most importantly, be ethical yourself. Don�t give employees any reason to question your behavior. Be honest with employees, and be stricter on yourself than on anyone else. If you show that ethics are a top priority to you, that priority will trickle down to your employees.

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