| If we have learned anything from the recent round of | | | | understand. It should be a set of clear principles that will |
| ponzi schemes that have come to light in the wake of | | | | help provide guidance to employees about how the |
| the recession and justice department investigations, | | | | organization expects them to conduct themselves |
| unethical business does not pay off. For example, | | | | while working for the company. |
| Bernie Madoff scammed approximately 50 billion | | | | - Don't just talk about ethics - walk the talk. It is |
| dollars out of unsuspecting investors! Now his fortune, | | | | important for managers and supervisors to be on |
| family, and freedom have all been taken away from | | | | board in order for ethical business practices to be |
| him. So what exactly are ethics? Ethics are a series | | | | taken seriously. If managers and supervisors talk a |
| of rules of conduct an individual or group adhere to. In | | | | great game, but are seen to be conducting themselves |
| an organizational sense, ethics are the rules of conduct | | | | in an unethical fashion, it does not bode well for |
| by which a company or employee conducts business. | | | | maintaining a culture of ethical practices. |
| So how does one make ethical management | | | | - Publicize the organization's commitment to ethics - be |
| decisions? Here are three tips to help managers and all | | | | open about ethical standards and hold everyone to a |
| employees conduct business in an ethical manner: | | | | high level of accountability. Offer training programs |
| - Establish a "Code of Conduct" containing the | | | | based on the Code of Conduct and encourage |
| organizational values to which your employees should | | | | managers and supervisors to talk about ethics with |
| adhere. Do not make it ambiguous or hard to | | | | their people to ensure the message gets through. |