TheCorporateCounsel.net

This 20-page report from LRN analyzes codes of conducts across the globe and suggests best practices that could help during your next review. First, LRN (which provides ethics & compliance trainings and resources) says that an effective code can be measured across 8 dimensions. The report provides examples of codes and code provisions that cover each of them:

– Tone from the top

– Purpose and values orientation

– Applicability and administration

– Speaking up

– Risk topics

– Knowledge Reinforcement

– Usability

– Look and feel

What makes a code “effective”? According to LRN, your code is most effective if it does the following:

– Communicating a leadership message that connects employees to purpose and company heritage.

– Integrating and providing behavioural guidance around their values and mission.

– Referencing specific responsibilities and expectations of stakeholders.

– Providing details on the resources for reporting concerns and making those resources accessible.

– Covering important risk areas and giving values-based business rationale for risk-mitigating measures.

– Incorporating multiple types of reinforcement tools throughout the document.

– Ensuring the document is laid out as a guide: linked, easy to read, and logically organised.

– Unifying the document with company branding and reinforcing the culture visually.

Visit our “Codes of Conduct” Practice Area for additional practical resources on this topic.

– Liz Dunshee