Ethical code

Many companies use the phrases ethical code and code of conduct interchangeably but it may be useful to make a distinction. A code of ethics will start by setting out the values that underpin the code and will describe a company's obligation to its stakeholders. The code is publicly available and addressed to anyone with an interest in the company's activities and the way it does business. It will include details of how the company plans to implement its values and vision, as well as guidance to staff on ethical standards and how to achieve them. However, a code of conduct is generally addressed to and intended for employees alone. It usually sets out restrictions on behavior, and will be far more compliance or rules focused than value or principle focused.

A code of practice is adopted by a profession or by a governmental or non-governmental organization to regulate that profession. A code of practice may be styled as a code of professional responsibility, which will discuss difficult issues, difficult decisions that will often need to be made, and provide a clear account of what behavior is considered "ethical" or "correct" or "right" in the circumstances. In a membership context, failure to comply with a code of practice can result in expulsion from the professional organization. In its 2007 International Good Practice Guidance, Defining and Developing an Effective Code of Conduct for Organizations, the International Federation of Accountants provided the following working definition: "Principles, values, standards, or rules of behavior that guide the decisions, procedures and systems of an organization in a way that (a) contributes to the welfare of its key stakeholders, and (b) respects the rights of all constituents affected by its operations."[1]

Listed below are a few example statements from the professional codes of the Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corporation (Fourth Estate), Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ):

Fourth Estate's Journalism Code of Practice[2]

"Accuracy: Accuracy, more-so than exclusivity or timeliness, is the overriding value of journalism."

"Independence: Independence from state control, business interests, market forces, or any other vested interest or outside pressure is a hallmark of dispassionate, critical, and reliable journalism. It bolsters legitimacy and credibility in the eyes of the public."

"Impartiality: Impartiality means not being prejudiced towards or against any particular ideology, idea, or preconception. Impartiality requires fairness and balance that follows the weight of evidence: it allows the journalist to make sense of events through dispassionate analysis of all relevant facts and perspectives."

"Integrity: Integrity in journalism ensures that people and organizations uphold the values of journalism, always strive to do the right thing in all situations, even to their personal or organizational detriment, and put their obligations to the public first."

"Harm Minimization: Journalists must always remember that they are dealing with human lives. The potential for public good must sufficiently outweigh the potential for harm that may come from the activity of journalism."

"Engagement: Engagement with the public ensures that journalism remains open, accessible, collaborative, and participatory while keeping the journalist accountable to the highest standards of accuracy, independence, impartiality, and integrity."

"Accountability: Accountability is essential to the ethical practice of journalism and the maintenance of the public trust. Being accountable for news-gathering practices and reporting means making firm commitments and taking responsibility for your journalism and the journalism of your peers."

PRSA Code of Ethics[3]

“Loyalty: We are faithful to those we represent, while honoring our obligation to serve the public interest.”

“Fairness: We deal fairly with clients, employers, competitors, peers, vendors, the media, and the general public. We respect all opinions and support the right of free expression.”

SPJ Code of Ethics[4]

“Minimize Harm … Balance the public’s need for information against potential harm or discomfort. Pursuit of the news is not a license for arrogance or undue intrusiveness. … Balance a suspect’s right to a fair trial with the public’s right to know. Consider the implications of identifying criminal suspects before they face legal charges. …”

“Act Independently … Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived. Disclose unavoidable conflicts.”

Ethical codes are often adopted by management, not to promote a particular moral theory, but rather because they are seen as pragmatic necessities for running an organization in a complex society in which moral concepts play an important part.

They are distinct from moral codes that may apply to the culture, education, and religion of a whole society. It is debated whether the politicians should apply a code of ethics,[5] or whether it is a profession entirely discretionary, just subject to compliance with the law: however, recently codes of practice have been approved in this field.[6]

Often, acts that violate ethical codes may also violate a law or regulation and can be punishable at law or by government agency remedies.

Even organizations and communities that may be considered criminal in nature may have ethical codes of conduct, official or unofficial. Examples could include hacker communities, bands of thieves, and street gangs.

The Jewish Written Torah and Oral Torah comprise the earliest and best preserved ethical code. Adapted to every field of actual day-to-day life for thousands of years, Jewish Halakha is the oldest collective body of religious laws, laws and jurisdictions still in use.

Codes seek to define and delineate the difference between conduct and behavior that is malum in se, malum prohibitum, and good practice. Sometimes ethical codes include sections that are meant to give firm rules, but some offer general guidance, and sometimes the words are merely aspirational.

In sum, a code of ethics is an attempt to codify "good and bad behavior".[7]

Wood tablet from Jebel Moya, inscribed with an ethical code of conduct, relating to Moses (line 7) and Pharaoh (line 12).

Medical workers and physicians

Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief

Declaration of Geneva

Hippocratic Oath

Percival's Medical Ethics

Madrid Declaration on Ethical Standards for Psychiatric Practice[8]

Military, warfare, and other armed conflict

Bushidō (Japanese samurai)

Code of the U.S. Fighting Force

International Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation ("ICOC" or "Hague Code of Conduct")

Israel Defense Forces Code of Conduct

Pirate code

Uniform Code of Military Justice (United States)

Warrior code

Religious

Code of Ma'at (Ancient Egypt)

Eight Precepts (Buddhism)

Five Precepts (Buddhism)

Golden Rule / Ethic of reciprocity (various)

Seven Laws of Noah (Judaism)

Patimokkha (Buddhism)

Quran (Islam)

Rule of St. Benedict (Christian monasticism)

Ten Commandments (Abrahamic religions)

Ten Precepts (Buddhism)

Ten Precepts (Taoism)

Yamas and niyama (Hindu scriptures)

Others

Applied ethics

• Media ethics

Aviators Model Code of Conduct

Global civics

ICC Cricket Code of Conduct

Institute of Internal Auditors, Code of Ethics

Journalist's Creed

Moral Code of the Builder of Communism

• Medical ethics
• Public sector ethics

• Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions. "Ethics Codes Collection". Illinois Institute of Technology.
• "Code of professional ethics: Version 2012". International Association of Conference Interpreters (AIIC). 26 February 2014.
• The Fourteen Principles of Ethical Conduct for Federal Employees
• The Code of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association