Business Ethics Training Can Help Businesses ImmenselyA large number of companies provide business ethics training to their employees, particularly after the Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations were issued during 1991. However, methodology and effectiveness of this training has always been a topic for debate in the business community. The trust, confidence and respect of a customer mainly depends on the ethical functioning of a company. For a company to function in an ethical manner, it is essential that everyone associated with the company- right from the owner(s) to the lowest-level employees- are well conversant with the ethical practices. In light of this, the business ethics training program of any company assumes great significance. Additionally, if a company is reputed to be ethical, not only the people directly dependent upon it such as owners and the employees, but customers in general will also feel proud being associated with it. A business ethics training program for the employees can be set up in ways such as developing an in-house program taking the specific requirements of the company into consideration or hiring an expert on the subject or by using a written manual. Whichever method you choose for the purpose, there are certain basic issues that the training curriculum must address. Honesty, fairness, compassion, respect and responsibility among others should form the core of the program. Strict adherence to not only the law of the land but also other desirable practices such as not using company resources for one's own benefit, workplace romances during working hours, etc. should form a part of the program. The training should be mandatory for every employee making it clear that everyone is equal when it comes to law and that no one is above it. The training program must be able to inform the employees standard operating procedures which are to be followed when there is a conflict of interests such as between employer and employee, employer/employee and customer/community. The procedure for reporting violations should also be made clear during the training. It should be one of the objectives of the program to make it clear to all the trainees that the violations will not be tolerated and defaulters will be dealt severely. This will work as a check against an employee being tempted to violate the code of conduct. The companies must ensure that the training becomes a continuous process. Provision should be there so that as and when it is felt that necessary additional topics should be added to the training program, they can be added. The employees will be clear about of the code of conduct envisaged by the company and the action the company wants them to take in a particular situation if the business ethics training program is meticulously planned and implemented. This will aid the business no end in the long term. |