Introduction
The aim here is to discuss the challenges and the roles human resources (HR) can play in ensuring ethical behaviour in human resource management and the organization. In a research conducted by Mahan, ethics in the workplace is defined as the moral code that guides the behaviour of employees concerning what is right and wrong regarding conduct and decision-making.
The Role of Human Resources in Ethical Behaviours
The principal purpose of a company’s ethical standards is to provide a clear guide for behaviour. HR is perfectly placed to ensure that this foundation aspect of ethics is up-to-date, reviewed annually and well understood within the organisation and, consequently, to ensure that this is an effective facet of the organisation’s ethics programme. HR professionals and senior management must take the lead in outlining ethical codes of conduct, by facilitating ethics audits and responding to ethical violations and by developing guidelines on disciplinary action for employees found guilty of ethical misconduct. Providing training on ethics policies in adherence to business processes and procedures ensures compliance with the law and gives assurances that employees reporting violations will not be retaliated against. The HR profession plays a leadership role in fostering an ethical climate within the company.
Why Ethical Behaviour is Important in the Workplace
In every organization, the employees must have a good understanding of ethical behaviour and how it works for the sake of discipline. An institution that adheres to or encourages ethical behaviour tends to have a good reputation. Unethical behaviour is associated with wrong behaviour that can be carried out by the stakeholders or the employees. It also appears that in organisations where management and employees view the ethics programme as unimportant, the role of HR professionals becomes even more critical.
How can HR promote ethical behaviour in the workplace?
HR professionals assist in laying out the prospects for staff by developing written morals of ethical workplace conduct, providing exercise to make sure everyone is aware of the expectations and equipping managers to strengthen the company’s values through their actions. HR professionals need to provide training for new employees to familiarise themselves with the conduct of ethics and how they should behave. It is significant for the HR professionals and the organisation management to set an ethical behaviour programme to ensure a stable and good reputation for their organisation. Unethical behaviour within an organisation can be bad for business. For instance, management that is rude to their employees and does not have rules that can discipline their employees might have a bad reputation for their organisation.
HR professionals need to provide their employees with inductions to create awareness among them. Ethical behaviour is very significant for the success of good business and enticing investors. The image of an organisation says a lot. No investors would invest in an organisation that is associated with unethical behaviour from stakeholders and employees.
