How to Create an Ethical Workplace?
Ethics in the workplace are vital, even to small business owners. No company wants to be known as unethical, and employees are more apt to display higher morale and more productivity when they know they are working for a morally sound company. It is important to create a conscientious workplace that is transparent, both to employees as well as the general public. Small business owners should never tolerate inappropriate behavior in an employee and employees should be properly trained on what is considered unethical and ethical.
Set an example for your workforce. In order for employees to behave in an ethical manner, they need to know that they are working for a moral boss. They will be much less likely to display signs of unethical behavior if they know that this type of behavior will not be tolerated or ignored.
Create a policy dealing with ethics. This company policy should state your expectations for your employees as well as outline what is and is not considered acceptable. Having a clearly written policy will help you take action should an employee act unethically.
Allow employees to report unethical behavior in a safe environment. No one enjoys ratting out a fellow employee, particularly if it will be made known who turned the person in. Give your employees a safe and anonymous way to air their complaints so that you can investigate the act and take action if necessary.
Provide ethics training to your workforce. A simple course in basic business ethics can go a long way towards helping your employees learn what is not acceptable. Free courses are available online to small businesses with limited budgets. Larger companies can typically hire a motivational speaker knowledgeable on this subject or pay for a more intensive course.
Punish any violators of your ethics policy. One bad employee can ruin the image of the entire company. It is necessary to establish a