ETHICAL EXPECTATIONS: CODE OF CONDUCT AND COMPLIANCE TRAINING

Description:  This course provides basic business ethical decision-making strategies and code of conduct information. It functions as a foundational, general ethics course targeted to all employees. This course introduces participants to various ethical decision-making models and then expands to cover common code of conduct topics. The emphasis of this course is to help employees develop solid ethical decision-making skills in the context of learning specific codes of conduct.

 

Objectives:

• Understand a working definition of business ethics and apply it to everyday situations.

• Know how to approach and solve various kinds of ethical dilemmas using specific ethical tests and problem-solving strategies.

• Understand the purpose, components, and scope of a code of conduct.

• Know the ethical principles for caring for company assets.

• Know the ethical principles for avoiding conflicts of interest.

• Know the ethical principles for handling confidential information and intellectual property.

• Know the ethical principles for dealing with business gifts and hospitality.

• Know the ethical principles for handling electronic communications.

• Know the ethical principles surrounding antitrust and fair completion conflicts.

• Understand the ethical responsibilities and obligations for employees and managers.

• Learn how to report unethical behavior and how to get assistance.

 

Course Outline

 

Part 1: Ethics Fundamentals

●       What is a code of conduct?

●       Why is a code of conduct important?

●       What is ethics?

●       What is business ethics?

●       Your ethical expectations

●       Your professional perspective

●       Ethical pillars

●       Ethical dilemmas of conscience

●       Dilemmas from outside your influence

●       Company/organizational values

 

Part 2: Assets and Conflicts of Interest

●       What are company assets?

●       Ethical principles for using company assets

●       Responsibility principles for using company assets

●       Responsibility for physical property

●       Responsibility for funds

●       Responsibility for intangible property

●       Responsibility for company records

●       What are conflicts of interest?

●       Outside employment conflicts

●       Financial conflicts

●       Conflicts of time and resources

●       Family conflicts

●       Personal volunteering/selling conflicts

●       Why should you avoid conflicts of interest?

 

Part 3: Confidential Information & IP and Business Gifts

●       What is confidential information?

●       What are trade secrets?

●       Intellectual property

●       How do you know what is confidential?

●       Protecting confidential information

●       What are business gifts and hospitality?

●       What do gifts communicate?

●       Reasons for rejecting inappropriate gifts

●       Bad intentions

●       Six considerations for accepting a gift

 

Part 4: Technology and Communications

●       Company hardware

●       Company software

●       Company computer networks

●       Company network ethical issues

●       Responsibility and respect

●       Occasional use

 

Part 5: Antitrust/Fair Competition, Ethical Responsibilities, and Reporting & Assistance

●       What are antitrust laws?

●       Rationale for having antitrust laws

●       Common antitrust behaviors

●       Antitrust laws

●       Exchanging information with competitors

●       Accuracy and honesty in communications

●       Your employee responsibilities

●       Manager/supervisor responsibilities

●       Company responsibilities

●       Myths of reporting

●       Documentation

●       Reporting and assistance

●       Retaliation

●       Survival tips