Employees with confidence in their team leaders and managers are free to do their best to make their organisation excellent in all its aspects. Ethical behaviour must start at the very top of the business. If management adopts business practices that are less than ethical, this attitude will filter through to all levels of employees. Clear policies and procedures need to be developed so that there can be no question in any employee's mind about what actions and behaviour are appropriate or acceptable. Few would think twice about a token such as a company calendar, whereas a gift given as a subtle form of bribery to speed production of a special order is another thing entirely.
Employers can expect as their basic right a fair day's work in return for the salary paid.
However, this issue cuts both ways. Restructuring in recent years has seen many employers take advantage of those employees left to do the job. Overtime may be paid, but in many instances the work is done without additional recompense. Ethically, no employee should be expected to carry a greater load than is realistic in the hours she is contracted to work. Never making illegal copies of software for personal use Never stealing office supplies Never using drugs and alcohol during business hours.