Blog Post: Workplace Ethics & Business for Social Responsibility: Initiatives for corporate culture’s committed to ethical business practices, concern for the environment and global humanitarian causes.

Contrary to what we hear in the media – whether the news is about Enron, predatory lending practices or the millions of uninsured worker’s in the U.S. , the words “business” and “ethics” aren’t an oxymoron. 

While we have employment laws and regulations that govern how worker's are to be treated and what companies cannot dump into our rivers and streams, organizational ethics is intended to go well beyond the law by linking a company's business practices to the personal beliefs of their employees, but its focus continues to be on the corporation and/or business at hand.  In other words, the members of a team and the various departments within an organization must work together to achieve common goals, while at the same time, attempting to do the "right thing" in a complex and diverse world.

In my role as an organizational development consultant, I partner with executive teams in developing and implementing HR systems and processes that both insulates them from potential liability and enhances operational efficiencies to save them money.  In doing so, I also attempt to help management teams - and influence employees - to recognize dysfunctional behaviors and moral dilemmas in their decision making. 

By facilitating a dialogue with the key stakeholders, I will offer suggestions on how they might balance the needs of the business with the needs of the people and then apply those to modern corporate life which, in the end, will also influence employee satisfaction, staff retention and inject a sense in pride.  Because of the fast paced nature of today’s world and the demands on everyone’s time, all too often people go through the motions of their day  without “being present” to how they perform a specific function or which supplier they are purchasing inventory from.

In my January 26 th blog entitled Code of Professional Conduct: Dealing with Inappropriate Conduct in the Workplace, I provided insight into why adopting a code of conduct is essential to the organization.  Additionally, I will also help the client in vetting out and identifying what they need and want in the way of corporate values and guiding principles.  In putting forth some basic corporate principles, the company is making a commitment to their employees of how they can expect to be treated and, more importantly, provides guidelines to the employee’s of how they are expected to do business on behalf of the company.

Some suggestions for guiding principles could include:

professionalism,
accountability,
volunteerism (meals on wheels, adopt a highway)
truth in advertising,                                                                                                                     civic/community involvement (sponsoring a little league team)
civil rights protection (only doing business with companies that have domestic partnership benefits)
human rights (not purchasing from sweat shops in 3rd world countries)
environmental protection (only doing business with “green” vendors/ suppliers)
external communications to shareholders, clients and the public, the balance between transparency and openness on the one hand and confidentiality on the other, community relations etc.,
lobbying,
responsible business practice (prohibitions on bribery, gifts, nepotism, self-dealing), and even business goals (such as becoming market leader).

While developing, publishing and communicating the company’s values, core principles and their code of conduct is essential to any ethics initiative, it’s also critically important everyone in the organization knows the values and principles and how to apply them to their work.   Some methods for promoting them might include a video from the President for all employees that features a personal promise to uphold certain values as the head of the organization, and frank presentation of current issues by a cross-section of staff.

In addition, any and all Training programs – beginning with the new hire orientation – should include references to - and examples of - the company’s values and principles.  Another piece of most ethics programs is an advisory service, or EAP (employee assistance program).  Generally administered through a hot-line, this service provides impartial, confidential help to the employees at a reasonable fee to the employer.

Part II: Business for Social Responsibility

Rather than draft something in my own words, for part II of this blog, I am simply cut and paste portions of the BSR website and encourage all reader’s to go to this website themselves to learn more about this highly effective and growing phenomenon. 

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Working with Business to Build A More Just and Sustainable World
Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) provides socially responsible business solutions to many of the world's leading corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in Europe and China , BSR is a nonprofit business association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000 enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works with corporations and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more just and sustainable global economy.

Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has helped companies of all sizes and sectors to achieve success in ways that demonstrate respect for ethical values, people, communities and the environment. A leading global resource for the business community and thought leaders around the world, BSR equips its member companies with the expertise to design and implement successful, socially responsible business policies, practices and processes. As a non-profit business association, BSR is uniquely positioned to promote cross-sector collaboration in ways that contribute to the advancement of corporate social responsibility and business success.

Membership in BSR provides an extensive set of practical resources -- including issue expertise, advisory services, training and timely insight on news, trends and innovations -- accessible through consultation, custom reports, publications and the web at www.bsr.org. BSR connects members to a global network of business and industry peers, partners, stakeholder groups and thought leaders. On behalf of its members, BSR also convenes and facilitates cross-sector dialogue and collaboration.

BSR also acts as a trusted intermediary between business and civil society. While understanding business and serving its needs, BSR maintains strong relationships with other key stakeholders and opinion formers in the civic and public sectors. Through these relationships, BSR provides companies with alternative viewpoints and engagement opportunities that help them better formulate decisions, positions and actions.

To learn more about BSR, please go to:  www.bsr.org                                     I’d also encourage you to check out the following page on the bsr.org website “About Our Workplace: Values, Culture and Work-Life Benefits”