Code of Conduct: 5 Keys to Ensuring Employee Compliancy

Karleia Steiner

January 22, 2015

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As a business owner or manager, you have certain expectations of those who work for and under you. You likely know what types of behavior you want employees to engage in and which types of behavior you would prefer they didn't. This code of conduct is meaningless, however, if your employees don't follow it. So how do you get them to do that?

Formalize It

Don't keep your ideas in your head. Write down a code of conduct to formalize it and hang it in a central location where employees will see it. Employees are far more likely to follow a code of conduct when it is a real, tangible item rather than an intangible concept.

Teach It

Employees need to know and understand the code of conduct in order to follow it. While this sound simple enough, some situations present legal and moral shades of gray that leaves people wondering exactly what to do. Global Learning training products and training tools help you help employees understand how your code of conduct translates from written words to actions.

Revisit It

Don't explain your code of conduct and then toss it into a corner. Instead, create an open door policy that allows employees to ask questions when they encounter a thorny problem and report actions they feel violate the code of conduct.

Follow It

Actions do speak louder than words. Your company code of conduct may decry illegal, immoral and dishonest behavior, but if those at the upper-level behave badly employees will too. Model the behavior you want to see and make sure upper-management does as well.

Enforce It

If you want people to follow your code of conduct, you must promote and enforce it. Although you shouldn't have to hand out cookies whenever an employee does the right thing, do recognize those who engage in activities that exemplify the spirit of your company conduct guidelines and punish those who violate them. Of course the punishment needs to fit the crime, but consequences are important enforcement tools and you need to utilize them.

Your company's code of conduct is important as it outlines the type of experience your customers and clients can expect. Your employees represent you, and it is important that they do so in a favorable way. These tips will help you make sure your code of conduct is followed so customers can have a consistently pleasant experience no matter which of your employees they interact with.