It's A Matter Of Ethics

Sep 1, 2004 12:00 PM, By Thomas Leo, CPP

Many firms have a policy on ethics, morality, honesty — a “code of conduct” for doing business. Many do not, and should consider these issues carefully as they relate to managing guard forces and other employees.

Here are some issues that can get the discussion started:

• Should you be responsible for your actions, accountable to yourself for your work, your decisions?

• Do you readily take the blame if you make a mistake?

• If something goes wrong with something you are working on, do you immediately look for someone else to blame?

• Is it ever your fault?

• When was the last time you voluntarily gave praise due you to a co-worker?

• Do you think it is OK or cool to sneak a bit of extra time on a smoke break, a lunch break, because it is “due you,” or because “no one will know?”

• If there were no possible chance of being caught, would it be all right to take something home — a notepad or a screwdriver?

• If you were the person in charge of letting the contract for cutting the grass at your site, would it be all right to let the contractor cut your grass at home, if he offered to do it free?

• If you were the person who chose the vendor who washed the company cars, would it be OK to drive your car through his car wash occasionally without paying, if he offered to let you?

• Would it be all right not to discipline a salesperson who brought several hundred thousand dollars worth of orders into the company, if that person accepted a Caribbean vacation from his/her client?

These scenarios happen every day within the business community, on every level. How employees react to these issues determines their attitude toward ethics and morality.

Following are three Rules of Thumb to consider when taking an action:

• Does this action attempt to deceive anyone or allow anyone to be deceived?

• Does this action gain or allow the gain of a privilege or advantage to which someone would not otherwise be entitled?

• Would one be dissatisfied by the outcome if he were on the receiving end of this action?

CODE OF ETHICS

For companies that do not have a “Code of Ethics,” one is provided in the sidebar. It is typical for someone to read such a document once a year, sign it, return the paper and then forget it as they go about business as usual. However, it addresses issues that are part of business every day.

This generic code of ethics is for firms that have not yet identified such a document. It is a simple, “fill in the blanks” type which may be expanded as needed.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thomas W. Leo is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and has more than 30 years of experience in the security industry. His Delaware-based consulting operation services the business, government and legal communities. He is a lifetime CPP and has served on the Board of Directors of ASIS International. E-mail him at thomasleo@mindspring.com

Share Your Story…

Every month, we are offering information about managing guard services and leading in-house staff. Among other things, this page offers an opportunity for readers to share the management lessons they have learned and to provide other helpful information to their peers in the industry. To offer suggestions, or to contribute to this page, contact Jennifer Pero at (770) 618-0135 or e-mail jpero@primediabusiness.com

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© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

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