Question

If a company doesn't have a policy or handbook clearly outlining all of the prohibited employee conduct, should an employee be disciplined or terminated for making an unethical decision in the workplace? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Answer :-

Workplace ethics relates to how one applies values to work in actual decision making - a set of right and wrong actions that directly impact the workplace.

The main need of workplace ethics is to ensure the presence of sound values and Ethics which is vital and ongoing part of good governance in companies and integral part of good management practices.

An employee handbook is a documentary proof outlining the companies policies and procedures. It mainly protects both the employer and the employees and most importantly it provides a written evidence for the employees, supervisors and managers about their prominent roles and responsibilities, expectations the company has from them.

Making a handbook in which all the policies are written can help resolve the disputes before they arise and avoid litigation.

The employee handbook includes the following details :-

1. Culture and benefits provided to employees

2. Employees performance

3. Code of conduct

4. Discipline

5. Employees rights and safety

In the given case, the employee cannot be terminated for making an unethical decision at workplace because the company neither maintains an employee handbook nor has maintained the hand written policies in case of harassment, discrimination and prevention of retaliation made by emoloyees which must be included in the employee handbook if the company chooses to include one of it.