For this assignment, you will assume the fictitious role of the Human Resource Director for Xtra Office Supplies and write seven ethics policies for your organization. Here are some parameters to help you with this assignment:
Your company has 30 employees, 7 of which are managers.
You will write 7 ethics policies that will guide both rank-and-file employees and their managers as they make business decisions. Each policy should discuss a specific decision-making process, such as the external hiring process, the internal promotion process, employee discipline, approval of time-off, vendor relations, financial reporting process, accepting gifts, reporting expenses, customer returns and refunds, etc. These are just example, you may select any appropriate topics you wish for your policies.
Each policy should clearly state the decision-making process it covers, giving guidance on how managers and employees should address the situation. The policy should outline specific expectations, give advice on available resources, and state when a situation should be escalated to the next level of management. Ensure each policy details any consequences for breaking it, such as discipline or termination.
Keep in mind the scope of these policies. The company is rather small, so the management structure most likely consists of several department managers that oversee rank-and-file employees (you are one of those managers) and the company owner or president. Therefore, you can specifically state who to escalate certain problems to. For example, in the case of an allegation of workplace harassment, you may want to state that the reporting party goes directly to the Director of Human Resources.
Keep your policies practical. This is a small, local printing company, so chances are they will not have as many detailed policies as a Fortune 500 corporation. Remember, the policies are a guide for all employees and managers as they make day-to-day decisions, so select appropriate topics. For example, a fair time-off policy is very practical, as a small company cannot afford to have too many individuals taking vacation at the same time. However, this policy should comply with any legal requirements such as FMLA, employment contracts, or wage and hour laws.
