Book chapter
5. Codes of Conduct
Abstract
A code of conduct is often defined as ”a set of rules around the behavior of employees that need to be followed within a certain organization.”. By following this code, the employees support progress to produce a more efficient and better business. A code of conduct does not only serve as some internal guidelines for the employees to follow, but it is also a statement of the corporate values and commitments a company has. These aspects will be discussed later in the chapter [120].
A well-written code of conduct clarifies the values and principles of the organization and connects them to professional standards of conduct that involve employee behavior. Therefore, the code of conduct sets the standard for the company. How an organization handles a code of conduct can differ a lot. One company can have an elaborate code of conduct, while another organization just barely writes a full page[120], [121].
A lot of the time the code of conduct gets mixed up with a code of ethics, however, these are quite different, this code and its differences will be explained in this chapter of the book. The main difference between the two is that a code of conduct refers specifically to behavior, whilst the code of ethics providesguidance on decision-making for employees while working [120].
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