Final answer:
A general code of ethics in real estate brokerage ensures compliance with laws, reflects social values, addresses specific issues, and sets guidelines for social and environmental responsibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of including a general code of ethics in the office policy of a real estate brokerage is multi-faceted. It serves to ensure that employees act in a manner that is consistent with relevant laws and regulations while also embodying the societal values in which the business operates.
A code of ethics helps in addressing specific issues such as bribery, discrimination, and whistleblowing, and provides guidelines on achieving environmental and social objectives, building and maintaining trust, and promoting general welfare. Such codes mirror professional organization standards, like the Software Engineering Code of Ethics from IEEE-CS, which mandates software approval only if it is safe, privacy-respectful, and environmentally harmless.