Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility

Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility set standards of behaviour for businesses to act in the best interests of their employees (as human beings), both internal to their firm and within their supply chain (inputs). 

Businesses are major actors in society and increasingly play role in social justice.

How this impacts HR:

• Unethical HR practice resulting in low morale, low productivity, high staff turnover rates, high absenteeism, negative press, increased conflict in the workplace;

• HR departments create codes to guide employees and the firm toward ethical conduct; 

  • Code of Conduct (outlines behaviours—visible in workplace);

  • Code of Ethics (statement of firm’s overall values and principles);

• Downsizing, offshore labour, outsourcing, discrimination, conflict of interest in recruitment...