Ethics and values

Ethics and values play an important role in organisations.  Consciously or unconsciously they provide the framework within which everyone is expected to behave and as such their influence permeates all areas of an organisation. 

Increasing numbers of organisations are stressing ethics as a driver for diversity, underpinned by articulated values such as integrity, respect for people, community and respect for the individual.[1]   The message is the diversity is simply “the right thing to do”.  The ethical drivers for diversity are inextricably linked to the business drivers. The public has higher expectations of how companies and public sector bodies should operate.  The increased coverage of issues of fair-trade, corporate governance, employment practices and environmental impact reflect increased scrutiny of organisations by potential customers and service users, investors and employees.

Employees have growing expectations of ethical behavior at work and value work environments that promote equity and fairness. Ethics and values are closely linked to reputation and brand [link to section 1 market/ customer attitudes] which in turn have a direct link to customer behaviour.  If customers identify, and are satisfied, with the values and image of the organisation, this is the most powerful vehicle for converting a set of attitudes and values into behaviour. [2]  According to the Work Foundation[3], interaction with local communities (if it is genuine and helpful), greater diversity of employees, and interesting or ethical policies will all lead to an increase in the number of people aware of the core brand and its purpose.