Cases of corporate corruption and misconduct — from the fall of Enron in the 1990s to the more recent scandals at Wells Fargo and Volkswagen — have motivated companies across the globe to take steps to ensure that their employees are making ethical decisions. Accordingly, many firms have revised their codes of conduct, ethics training, and everyday communications in recent years.
Your Code of Conduct May Be Sending the Wrong Message
Using the collective “we” might increase misconduct, according to research.
March 13, 2020
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Summary.
In an attempt to suppress corruption and other forms of misconduct, many firms have revised their codes of conduct, ethics training, and other communications and adopted personal language aimed at making employees feel like they are members of a community. But research has found that such language can backfire and can actually increase misconduct.
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New!
HBR Learning
HBR Learning
Ethics at Work Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Ethics at Work. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Avoid integrity traps in the workplace.