Tone from the top is not the first critical measure of an effective ethics program but is typically the most important aspect of an ethically excellent enterprise. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is more than a saying. The best time to identify a world class employer with leadership committed to ethical conduct is prior to employment.
Allen Wass, CPC of Sanford Rose Associates recently posted a commentary discussing the importance of organizations and their sets of values which determine their perspectives and actions. A company forms an ethical foundation by creating and openly listing the principles it follows, and these standards guide its employees. He provides two examples:
Company #1
-Integrity
-Safety, safety, safety
-Respect
-Competitiveness
-Teamwork
-Results, not reasons-make it happen
Company #2
-Nothing is more important than the safety of our people
-Dedication to the customer
-Respect for the dignity, rights, and contributions of each associate
-Mutually beneficial supplier relationships
-Active participation in and communication with the community
-Commitment to integrity and high ethical standards.
Company stating their values are more likely to be operationally excellent with respect to ethical behavior. Other techniques available to the applicant are interviews with former and current employees and research to include recognition of the organization by industry associations or ethics and compliance oversight groups.
Being able to identify these enterprise values before you sign on to the team is a “freebie” and when available should always be checked out.
Next time, we will discuss the leader of the organization and his or her responsibility and requirement to drive the ethics and compliance program.
Allen Wass, CPC of Sanford Rose Associates recently posted a commentary discussing the importance of organizations and their sets of values which determine their perspectives and actions. A company forms an ethical foundation by creating and openly listing the principles it follows, and these standards guide its employees. He provides two examples:
Company #1
-Integrity
-Safety, safety, safety
-Respect
-Competitiveness
-Teamwork
-Results, not reasons-make it happen
Company #2
-Nothing is more important than the safety of our people
-Dedication to the customer
-Respect for the dignity, rights, and contributions of each associate
-Mutually beneficial supplier relationships
-Active participation in and communication with the community
-Commitment to integrity and high ethical standards.
Company stating their values are more likely to be operationally excellent with respect to ethical behavior. Other techniques available to the applicant are interviews with former and current employees and research to include recognition of the organization by industry associations or ethics and compliance oversight groups.
Being able to identify these enterprise values before you sign on to the team is a “freebie” and when available should always be checked out.
Next time, we will discuss the leader of the organization and his or her responsibility and requirement to drive the ethics and compliance program.