The Code of Conduct in a Business
A business’s code of conduct outlines the rules for acceptable workplace behavior--its minimum requirements for keeping employees safe, healthy and happy at work. It may address forced labor, child labor, harassment, abuse, health, wages and nondiscrimination. It is up to each individual business to create and implement a code of conduct to meet the specific goals of its mission and needs of its employees.
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Purpose
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A code of conduct is a document with which a business may express its mission statement and provide guidelines by which to safely achieve goals. The document should communicate a shared sense of purpose and responsibility and encourage cooperation. A business should make its code of conduct available to all employees. To ensure that all employees read and understand the code, it may require translation into several languages. An employer should consider having employees acknowledge in writing that they have read and understood the code and agree to comply with its guidelines.
Harassment
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All businesses must outline their specific definitions of workplace harassment and explain what will happen to those who harass others. To protect employees thoroughly, this section of the code should include details about what constitutes physical, sexual, psychological and verbal abuse that can occur between co-workers, workers and clients or workers and their supervisors.
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Discrimination
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The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEO) enforces federal laws relating to workplace discrimination. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against a worker on the basis of race, skin color, religion, national origin or sex. A business code of conduct should include nondiscrimination policies both enforced by EEOC and policies created specifically for the company itself. A business may decide that its code of conduct should include nondiscrimination policies concerning a less-recognized minority group, such as transgender employees.
Health and Safety
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Each business should consult the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding workplace health and safety standards. Depending on the type of work, specific guidelines must be followed to prevent sickness, injury or accidents and create the safest work environment possible for all employees. These guidelines should be written in the business’s code of conduct as practiced.
Specifics
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Businesses are not required by law to write and implement a code of conduct. The wording may be formal or informal, depending on which will be best received and understood by employees. For legal issues such as sexual harassment, an attorney should be consulted to make sure each issue is sufficiently covered. Laws will vary by state.
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References
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