Does the Leaders’ ethical ceiling become the follower’s ethical floor

Many professionals believe that defining organizational ethics is the starting point for any organisation.

Ethics may need to be derived from consultation with staff, customers and stakeholders with a view to gaining a consensus and for them becoming widely accepted, before being incorporated within policies, procedures and linked to competency frameworks. In this way they should positively and productively impact the organisational culture.

Ethics are the basis of decision making and of doing the right things in the face of routine or difficult or controversial issues and circumstance.

An organisation devoting resources to developing policies and procedures, training, marketing and promoting them and supporting ethical leadership that encourages ethical actions, builds a positive and productive corporate culture which reflects externally to the community and impacts positively in terms of reputation, trust and confidence, internally and throughout society.

Staff morale and motivation will improve when employees feel protected. Staff become more loyal and trusting and engagement increases.

Ethics express the organisational values through the diversity of its people, driving forward the organisational purpose. They can underpin common, consistent and high-quality service delivery and align people towards clear goals and objectives.

They provide an organisational 'compass' rather than a 'road map' towards success.

It is often said that there are four elements to the creation of an ethical culture and behaviour of employees within an organization:

1) A written and published code of ethics with clearly defined standards of values, belief, attitude, thinking and behaviour.

2) Ethics training for all staff including chiefs, executives, managers, supervisors, front line and back room and employees.

3) The availability of ethical advice or structures to assist decision makers including discussion a forum for particularly complex or difficult/high risk cases.

4) Confidential reporting systems and clear, objective monitoring processes.

I would say ethics are an essential part of your strategic OD considerations and when well demonstrated by leaders, they can provide integrity and a solid platform for others to do their job in a way that can only enhance reputations, trust and confidence.

Any views?