A company’s ethics will determine its reputation. Good business ethics are essential for the long-term success of an organization. Implementing an ethical program will foster a successful company culture and increase profitability. Developing a Business Ethics program takes time and effort, but doing so will do more than improve business, it will change lives. A company’s ethics will have an influence on all levels of business. It will influence all who interact with the company including customers, employees, suppliers, competitors, etc. All of these groups will have an effect on the way a company’s ethics are developed. It is a two-way street; the influence goes both ways, which makes understanding ethics a very important part of doing business today. Ethics is very important, as news can now spread faster and farther than ever before."

Course Outline:

Module One: Getting Started
• Icebreaker
• Housekeeping Items
• The Parking Lot
• Workshop Objectives

Module Two: What is Ethics?
• What is Business Ethics
• 10 Benefits of Managing Ethics
• Case Study

Module Three: Implementing Ethics in the Workplace
• Benefits
• Guidelines for Managing Ethics in the Workplace
• Roles and Responsibilities

Module Four: Employer / Employee Rights
• Privacy Policies
• Harassment Issues
• Technology

Module Five: Business and Social Responsibilities
• Identifying Types of Responsibilities
• Case Study
• Handling Conflicting Social and Business Responsibilities
• Case Study

Module Six: Ethical Decisions
• The Basics
• Balancing Personal and Organizational Ethics
• Common Dilemmas
• Making Ethical Decisions
• Overcoming Obstacles

Module Seven: Whistle Blowing
• Criteria and Risk
• The Process
• When You Should "Blow the Whistle"

Module Eight: Managerial Ethics
• Ethical Management
• Identifying the Characteristics
• Ensuring Ethical Behavior

Module Nine: Unethical Behavior
• Recognize and Identify
• Preventing
• Addressing
• Interventions

Module Ten: Ethics in Business (I)
• Organization Basics
• Addressing the Needs
• Ethical Principles

Module Eleven: Ethics in Business (II)
• Ethical Safeguards
• Developing a Code of Ethics
• Performing an Internal Ethics Audit
• Upholding the Ethics Program

Module Twelve: Wrapping Up
• Words from the Wise
• Review of Parking Lot
• Lessons Learned
• Completion of Action Plans and Evaluations