Final answer:
A code of conduct is a set of guidelines outlining expected behaviors for employees in an organization, addressing legal, ethical, and professional standards. It includes rules pertaining to specific issues like bribery and extends to goals like protecting the environment. Adherence to these guidelines is critical for maintaining employment and ethical standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
A code of conduct is indeed a collection of statements that define the expected behaviors of employees within an organization, what actions are encouraged, and what actions are forbidden. A code of conduct serves as a guide to ensure that business operations comply with legal standards and societally accepted ethical norms. It addresses specific issues such as bribery, discrimination, and whistleblowing, and often extends to broader goals like environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Additionally, codes of conduct are not exclusive to businesses; professional organizations also establish these rules to govern the behavior of their members. For example, the Software Engineering Code of Ethics, adopted by the IEEE Computer Society, outlines the responsibilities of software engineers towards society, including producing safe and reliable software that does not negatively impact human life or the environment.
Adherence to a code of conduct is crucial for employees, as failing to meet these expectations could result in job termination. Thus, it is essential for members of an organization to familiarize themselves with and commit to the specified conduct. Formal norms, such as those outlined in a code of conduct, are designed to provide clarity and are amongst the most strictly enforced principles within an organization.