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Directory of education resources on business ethics and corporate social responsibility. Find links to ethics training programs or business ethics consultants to ensure a high level of workplace ethics and proper conduct for your company.

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Business Ethics in the Workplace

Taking steps to foster a high level of ethics in business practices is something every company — no matter how small — should do. At the very foundation of business ethics is the commitment to treating customers, employees, investors, vendors, distributors and anyone else involved with your organization with honesty and respect. A high level of ethics in business starts at the top with the owner's values and sense of corporate social responsibility, which are then infused into every business process, practice and procedure. Staying true to your moral compass can:

Improve employee morale
Strengthen customer relationships
Improve company image in the community
Give you a competitive edge
Improve your bottom line
Create a better workplace with a strong sense of business ethics

Define your values

Rely on your personal values to formulate your company's policies on workplace ethics and corporate social responsibility.
Try: Take a quiz from the Center for Ethics and Business to reveal your "ethical style." Do some research with organizations dedicated to business ethics.

Develop a workplace ethics policy

Consider how your values relate to your customers, employees, investors, vendors and others. With those values in mind, develop guidelines for your business processes and practices.
Try: The Josephson Institute of Ethics is a great non-profit organization that conducts programs and workshops on business ethics. This is the organization that created the "Character Counts!" youth education initiative. The Ethics Resource Center's Ethics Toolkit includes a printer-friendly copy of guidelines on what to include when writing a business ethics policy.

Get your staff thinking about business ethics

Lead by example and engage employees ethics discussions of business ethics on a regular basis to reinforce your business values.
Try: Scroll down on this page from the SBA website to find an honesty self-assessment test you can give to your employees to spark discussion of ethics in business. Sign up to receive free and inspiring newsletters and commentary on ethics at CharacterCounts.org.

Get training in corporate social responsibility

Strengthen your understanding of how to implement a business ethics policy and improve your leadership ability with a variety of training opportunities.
Try: Sign up for a Webinar on how to create an ethical culture from Working Values or consider corporate social responsibility training from Integrity Interactive, The Richardson Company or Business.com's list of business ethics consultants or workplace ethics training programs.

Offer tools to resolve business ethics dilemmas

Business owners and employees alike may face tough decisions involving workplace ethics. Arm yourself with ethical decision-making know-how.
Try: The Ethics Resource Center offers resources for helping you make ethical decisions.

Promote your business ethics

Share your vision with customers, vendors and others about your commitment to ethical business values.
Try: Include your policy in your marketing materials or on your Web site. Online marketers can display their dedication to corporate social responsibility and ethics in business by applying for a Reliability Seal from the Better Business Bureau.

Make sure employees understand the consequences of acting unethically and enforce your business-ethics policy.
Remember that ethics in business begins at the top. Lead by example.
Keep the lines of communication open with employees. Set up a system so employees can report any unethical behavior or concerns about proper workplace ethics.

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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Business Ethics

Are you interested in business ethics? Ethics is a huge part of business, and it is usually a required course at accredited schools teaching business. There are a number of advantages to learning the ethics of business, and those who study it are quick to find good business is more than an ethical issue because creating a business around ethical practices often leads to more success.

If searching for sources covering this topic, you may find a number of different options. There are a few things you will want to keep in mind when choosing any source to help you understand or learn more about the ethics of business. The type of business you are running is a huge factor, every ... more