What does an ethical workplace need?
There are several traits that ethical companies share. One is having a clearly defined statement or list of core principles and values, such as respect, honesty, integrity, and accountability.
Respect creates a positive work culture
Companies also need respect among all members of the organization. A lack of respect can breed a toxic work environment where negative or bullying behaviors are seen as the norm, employees are stressed, communication is limited, and negativity can trickle down to interactions with clients or customers. When a positive work culture is cultivated and maintained, employees are more likely to feel motivated, engaged, and fulfilled!
Strong Leaders in the Ethical Workplace
Let's discuss ethics in the workplace. When you don’t have a clear guide of what your company stands for, then there is no baseline of expected decisions and behaviors An ethical workplace must also have strong, ethical leaders who can demonstrate and maintain the company's core principles and values. When these leaders choose ethics over profit, their behavior can positively influence the entire workforce.
There have been many companies in U.S. history that have been unethical in their actions. Let's look at an example.
In 2018, the Securities Exchange Commission charged Theranos, Holmes, and the company’s president with fraud, and in 2022, Holmes was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. Theranos’ dishonesty is an example of illegal and unethical conduct that resulted in sizable financial losses for numerous investors that had placed their faith in the founder’s once-promising claims.
While the technology could have potentially revolutionized the healthcare industry—if it had worked—Holmes allegedly failed to inform investors and the public that the company’s claims were not supported by scientific evidence and that there was never a working prototype.
Theranos was a company founded by Elizabeth Holmes in 2003 that offered the promise of a breakthrough blood-testing technology that could function with just a minimal amount of blood. Anticipating that this discovery could lead to a booming health-tech revolution, wealthy investors proceeded to invest millions of dollars into the project—helping Theranos reach a $10-billion-dollar peak value.
The History of Eco-Sustainability in the workplace
Did you know that in 1715, a 400-page treatise was published proposing future sustainable practices in the foresting industry? The author, Hans Carl von Carlowitz, is generally considered the "Father" of sustainability. Depending on your industry, your company could also be required to maintain a certain level of Eco-Sustainability. Critical focus on how companies affect the environment is seen as a "modern ethics" problem, but the application of sustainable business practices has been around since the 1800s!
Reasons for Behaving Unethically
So why do people behave unethically in the workplace? Often there are underlying factors.
Here are some myths to look out for:
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Failure to see the harm in the actions
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Desire to get ahead
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Economic greed
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Lack of consequences
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Lack of training on the rules
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Lack of support from management
The Most Engaging Online Code Of Conduct Course
These days, codes of conduct apply both inside and outside the workplace. They are relevant to every facet of our lives and contribute to creating a more favorable and secure environment for all. EasyLlama provides a cutting-edge training platform that makes it learning enjoyable, simple to recall, and engaging to use in order to assist businesses and individuals in understanding their function in the procedure.
Helping over 8,000+ organizations create a safer, more inclusive company culture.
With EasyLlama training, your employees will discover how to be more aware of discrimination, bias in the workplace, and reap the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce. Here are some of the topics covered in our course:
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