Making An Ethics Policy
The increased focus on ethics for businesses and organizations of all types, even including government, is not only a socially commendable development but importantly has legal implications for liability for potential claims against them, their directors, officers, and managers. Having an Ethics Policy is thus not only socially responsible but internally wise.WHY?The law views ethics and agency as the twin pillars on which organizational actions rest and thus lack of a Policy suggests negligence, or worse, callousness for the effects those acting within and in the name of an organization can have. The only thing that may be as bad or worse is an Ethics Policy that is poorly developed/ Sadly, many of the “standard” easily adopted ethics policies available on the web and elsewhere are often deficient, because they do not lend themselves to being properly customized for the adopting organization.Areas CoveredIntroduction – Reasons for an Ethics PolicySetting Goals for an Ethics Policy - Internal Effects - External EffectsLegal Considerations - Authority - Clarity - No Discrimination - Impact on Operations - No Conflicts with Operations - Insurance & Liability - Enforcement Elements of an Ethics Policy - Who’s Covered By the Policy - Conflicts - Confidentiality - Non-Competition - Disclosures - Violations - Cure or Impossibility of CureCustomization – Who Gives Input - Internal - External Publication - Internal - ExternalConcluding ThoughtsCourse Level - FundamentalWho Should Attend Business OwnersShareholderStockholderPartnerMemberBoards of DirectorsDirectorOfficers of Businesses & Non-ProfitsPresidentVice PresidentSecretaryTreasurerManagers of Businesses & Non-ProfitsManagerGovernment OfficialsLawyers
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The increased focus on ethics for businesses and organizations of all types, even including government, is not only a socially commendable development but importantly has legal implications for liability for potential claims against them, their directors, officers, and managers. Having an Ethics Policy is thus not only socially responsible but internally wise.
WHY?
The law views ethics and agency as the twin pillars on which organizational actions rest and thus lack of a Policy suggests negligence, or worse, callousness for the effects those acting within and in the name of an organization can have. The only thing that may be as bad or worse is an Ethics Policy that is poorly developed/ Sadly, many of the “standard” easily adopted ethics policies available on the web and elsewhere are often deficient, because they do not lend themselves to being properly customized for the adopting organization.
Areas Covered
- Introduction – Reasons for an Ethics Policy
- Setting Goals for an Ethics Policy
- Internal Effects
- External Effects - Legal Considerations
- Authority
- Clarity
- No Discrimination
- Impact on Operations
- No Conflicts with Operations
- Insurance & Liability
- Enforcement - Elements of an Ethics Policy
- Who’s Covered By the Policy
- Conflicts
- Confidentiality
- Non-Competition
- Disclosures
- Violations
- Cure or Impossibility of Cure - Customization – Who Gives Input
- Internal
- External - Publication
- Internal
- External - Concluding Thoughts
Course Level - Fundamental
Who Should Attend
- Business Owners
- Shareholder
- Stockholder
- Partner
- Member
- Boards of Directors
- Director
- Officers of Businesses & Non-Profits
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Managers of Businesses & Non-Profits
- Manager
- Government Officials
- Lawyers
