MODULE 2

Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

Code of Ethics

The code of ethics is a moral standard that the company expects employees to follow. A
business can exceed minimum ethics guidelines to ensure that employees feel safe, avoid situation
where they feel harassment or discrimination.

For example if an organization is committed to protecting the environment and “being green”, the code
of ethics will state that there is an expectation for any employee faced with a problem, to choose the
most “green” solution. It works on the bases of “treat others as you would like to be treated.” When
faced with ethical dilemmas or debatable situations, what’s articulated in the code of ethics can help
guide decision making.

Code of Conduct

It outlines specific behaviors that are required or prohibited as a condition of ongoing employment. It
might forbid sexual harassment, racial intimidation or viewing inappropriate or unauthorized content on
company computers. The codes need to apply to every employee from the ground up, and no matter
how small the violation, appropriate discipline needs to takes place.

The difference between Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

It is easy to see why code of ethics and code of conduct may be confused or used interchangeably. Both
have goals of setting a standard of behaviors from employees. Both have goals of setting a standard of
behaviors from employees. Both are similar as they are used in an attempt to encourage specific forms
of behavior by employees. Ethics guidelines attempt to provide guidance about values and choices to
influence decision making. Conduct regulates assert that some specific actions are appropriate, others in
appropriate.
They are, in fact, two unique documents. Code of ethics, which govern decision making, and code of
conduct, which govern actions, represent two common ways that companies/organization/agencies self-
regulate.

CODE OF ETHICS CODE OF CONDUCT

Ethics rules help people make decisions Conduct rules require specific behaviors

A moral standard that the company expects Code of conduct states how the how the company
employees to follow expects employees to behave
Code of ethics might state that all employees must A code of conduct explains for example, the
obey all safety protocols distance from an oxygen tank employees are
allowed to smoke.
Ethical standard generally are wide-ranging and Conduct standard generally require little
non-specific, designed to provide a set of values or judgement; you obey or incur penalty, and the
decision-making approaches that enable code provides a fairly clear set of expectations
employees to make independent judgements about which actions are required, acceptable or
about the most appropriate course of action. prohibited.

Professional Ethics

Professional ethics encompass the personal, and corporate standards of behavior expected by
professionals.

The word professionalism originally applied to vows of a religious order. By at least the year 1675, the
term had seen secular application and was applied to the three learned professions:

1. Divinity
2. Law
3. Medicine
The term professionalism was also used for military profession around the same time. Professionals and
those working in acknowledged professions exercise specialist knowledge and skill. How the use of this
knowledge should be govern when providing a service to the public can be considered a moral issue and
is termed professional ethics. It is capable of making judgements, applying their skills, and reaching
informed decisions in situations that the general public cannot because they have not attained the
necessary knowledge and skills.

Professional Codes of Ethics

General rule is to ethically act in accordance with approved standards of conduct and responsibility or
according to the respective ethical code of behavior.

Importance of Professional Codes of Ethics

 Many ethical dilemmas in criminal justice

 Complicated relationships in the field
 Requirement of professionalism

Making Ethical Decisiolns: PROCESS

Ethical decision-making refers to the process of evaluating and choosing among alternatives in a
manner consistent with ethical principles. In making ethical decisions, it is necessary to perceive and
eliminate unethical options and select the best ethical alternative.

The process of making ethical decisions requires:

1. Commitment: the desire to do the right thing regardless of the cost.

2. Consciousness: the awareness to act consistently and apply moral convictions to daily behavior
3. Competency: the ability to collect and evaluate information, develop alternatives, and foresee
potential consequences and risks.

Good decisions are both Ethical and Effective:

Ethical decisions – generate and sustain trust; demonstrate respect, responsibility, fairness and caring;
and are consistent with good citizenship. These behaviors provide a foundation for making better
decisions by setting the ground rules for our behavior.

Effective decisions – are effective if they accomplished and if they advance our purposes. A choice that
produces unintended and undesirable results is ineffective. The key to making effective decisions is to
think about choices in terms of their ability to accomplish our most important goals. This means we have
to understand the difference between immediate and short-term goals and longer-range goals.

7 STEPS TO HELP YOU MAKE ETHICAL DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN COMPETING ACTIONS WHEN YOU ARE
FACED WITH A DIFFICULT CHOICE. (According to Josephson Institute of Ethics)

1. Stop and Think: these provides several benefits,. It prevents rush decisions, prepares us
for more thoughtful discernment, and allow us to mobilize our discipline.
2. Clarify Goals: before you choose, clarify your short-term and long-term aims.
3. Determine Facts: be sure you have adequate information to support an intelligent
choice. To determine the facts, first resolve what you know then what you need to
know.
a. Consider the reliability and credibility of the people providing the facts.
b. Consider the basis of the supposed facts. If the person giving you the
information says he or she personally heard or saw something, evaluate that
person in terms of honesty, accuracy, and memory.
4. Develop Options: once you know what you want to achieve and have made your best
judgment as to the relevant facts, make a list of actions you can take to accomplish your
goals.
5. Consider Consequences- filter your choices to determine if any of your options will
violate any core ethical values, and then eliminate any unethical options.
6. Choose - make a decision. If the choice is not immediately clear, try:
a. Talking to people whose judgment you respect.
b. Think of a person of strong character that you know or know of, and ask
yourself what they would do in your situation.
 c. If everyone found out about your decision, would you be proud and
comfortable?
d. Follow the Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated,
and keep your promises.

7. Monitor and Modify- ethical decision makers monitor the effects of their choices. If
they are not producing the intended results, or are causing additional unintended and
undesirable results, they re-assess the situation and make new decisions.

ETHICAL DILEMMAS

Also known as a MORAL DILEMMAS, are situations which there is a choice to be made between
two options, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable fashion. A moral dilemma
is a conflict in which you have to choose between two or more actions and have moral reasons for
choosing each action.

What are the ethical models?

The ETHICS model is a theoretical grounded ethical decision making model draws from the latest
relevant literature in ethics and integrates multiple theoretical perspectives. Specifically the model is
comprehensive and accessible, and can be used with a wide range of cases.

An ethical decision making model is a framework that leaders use to bring these principles to the
company and ensure they are followed.

6 Steps for Making Ethical Decisions

1. ESTABLISH THE FACTS IN A SITUATION

Establish exactly what has happened (or is happening) and who is involved in the
situation before trying to figure out what to do about it.
 2. DECIDE WHETHER THE SITUATION INVOLVES LEGAL OR ETHICAL ISSUES
The next step consists of determining whether the situation has legal implications.
Has anyone been harmed by the action or decision of another, and if so, in what
way? Does the action or situation contravene an existing law? Was there a breach
of contract?
3. IDENTIFY YOUR OPTIONS AND POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES
Ask yourself: What could I do in this situation? Think about a variety of options.
4. EVALUATE YOUR OPTIONS
Assess the pros and cons of each of your options outlined in step 3. A decision
should reflect a fair balance between outcomes sought and the means used to
achieve them.
5. CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION
Requires a final reflection on what is the best decision under the circumstances, a
just a reasonable decisions that will apply where an ethical dilemma is involved.
6. IMPLEMENT YOUR DECISION

Putting your decision or plan of action into effect requires that you consider a
number of things, particularly if it involves dealing with individuals or groups of
people.

D-O-O-R Model of Decision Making

D- Determine

O- Options

O-Outcomes

R-Recycle

D-Determine

 What is wrong?
 What’s the real issue for me?
  Is there a moral or ethical threat to me or someone else?
 Would this be a problem if someone else was involved?

O- Options

 What are some extreme choices?

 Am I considering several choices?
 What resources or help do I have available?
 Choose them wisely

O- Outcomes

 What would happen based on the option I choose?

 What could happen if I do nothing
 Who will be affected by what I do?
 Is it the RIGHT thing to do?

R- Recycle

 After an option is chosen, return to see if the original question is still valid.

Contractual Obligations

When an adviser enters into a contract (or written agreement) with a client this creates legally binding
obligations to perform the terms of the contract in a particular way. This includes a duty to act with
diligence, due care and skill, and also implies obligations such as confidentiality and honesty, even if
they are not specifically set out in the contract.

Codes of Conduct

Codes of conduct are becoming more a staple in the academic lives of students while some of these
rules are based solely on academic others are more in depth than in previous years.

A code of professional conduct is necessary component to any profession to maintain standards for the
individuals within that profession to adhere. It brings about accountability and trust to the individuals
that the profession serves.
Why Code of Conduct is Important?

Code of conduct is a central guide and reference for employees in supporting day-to-day
decision making. A well written code clarifies organization’s mission, values and principles, linking them
with standards of professional conduct.

What is Professional Conduct?

Professional conduct is the field of regulation of members of professional bodies, either acting under
statutory or contractual powers. It is a behavior that meets or exceeds ethical expectations for a given
profession.

Importance of Professional Conduct

Being a professional, it is necessary for the person to maintain his/her ethical behavior and to
have good professional conduct. Most professionals have internally enforced codes of practice that
members of the profession must follow to prevent exploitation of the client and to preserve the
integrity of the profession.

12 Professionals Behavior Steps

1. Honesty: always act openly. Never share confidential interest or client information
unnecessarily, and do not tolerate or justify dishonest conduct by others.
2. Respect: maintain a respectful attitude to others at al times, even during stressful times.
3. Meetings: arrive on time and be prepared by reviewing the agenda or meeting notes in advance.
4. Communication: speak clearly and in language others can easily understand, act courteously and
use good manners when engaging with others.
5. Time Management: don’t be late to work instead arrive a few minutes early to settle, get ypur
coffee and greet co-workers.
6. Integrity: act ethically and do the right thing at all times, always report suspicious people in the
office, misconduct or other violations of company policy.
7. Safety: understand the company safety policy and report any maintenance or other hazards
immediately.
 8. Corporate goals : have an understanding of your company’s missions, goals and objectives and
the role that you play in achieving those.
9. Dress: dress in clean appropriate clothing. Follow any dress code standards.
10. Accountability: take responsibility for your work and actions, do what needs to be done, and
don’t leave it for others.
11. Teamwork: you often work with people that you may not necessary like. Set aside differences to
work well with others since teamwork sometimes even outweighs performance.
12. Commitment: dedication and a positive action to your role and the organization can carry you
along way.
Essentially, being professional is about giving your best at all times. Think about how your
behavior will be perceived by others and make sure to understand and follow company codes of
conduct where they exist.

The difference between personal and professional ethics

Personal ethics refers to the ethics that a person identifies with in respect to people and
situations that they deal with in everyday life.

Professional ethics refers to the ethics that a person must adhere to in respect of their
interactions and business dealing in their personal life.

In some cases, personal and professional ethics may clash and cause a moral conflict. For example:

 A police office may personally believe that a law that he is required to enforce is wrong.
However, under the code of conduct fpr the police, he is required to obey all lawful and
reasonable instructions to enforce that law unless there is good and sufficient cause to do
otherwise.
 A doctor may not personally believe that the course of medical treatment chosen by a patient is
the right one. However, under the code of ethics, she must respect the rights, autonomy and
freedom of choice of the patient.