Why you need a Code of Conduct at your workplace

Changes to employment law mean that businesses of all sizes - big and small - are going under increased scrutiny to do right by their employees and stay within the law. While a Code of Conduct is not a legal requirement it makes good business sense to have one.

What is a Code of Conduct?

A Code of Conduct sets out clear ground-rules for the professional behaviour and conduct that is expected in your workplace. It also provides an open disclosure of the way an organisation operates. It is hard for an employee NOT to know how to act and behave when there is a code of conduct in place.

The code should also include your Disciplinary Procedure, which is the process to be followed when an employee's behaviour or conduct is in breach of your Code of Conduct.

Employers also need to be mindful of the wording they use in their Code of Conduct and regularly review their policies and procedures to ensure they remain relevant given current employment law.

How can I get a Code of Conduct?

Workforce Guardian provides two ways for employers to set out a Code of Conduct for their workforce. The first way to create a Code of Conduct is within the employment agreement.

Workforce Guardian has developed contract generation technology allowing you to produce the right employment contract for each employee every time in a simple and logical way. The employment agreements are generated by interview style questions including whether you would like to include a standard code of conduct as part of the agreement.

Standard clauses covered by this code of conduct include:

• Performance of Duties
• Alcohol and Prohibited Drugs
• Property
• Vehicles
• Internet / Email / Computers
• Personal Behaviour
• Harassment

The second way to create a Code of Conduct is within the step-by-step Processes. Workforce Guardian provides a Policies section containing 66 policies for you to download and use to create your own workplace policy library for your company. You can amend these policies to suit your specific requirements.

Get access to Workforce Guardian's valuable library of employment contracts, step-by-step advice and Employee Code of Conduct.

Workforce Guardian Products

Flexible products to suit all sized businesses and all sized budgets:

Professional Complete Employee Management System including 5 types of contracts, 13 step-by-step processes, 80+ letters and templates, Alerts and Notes plus flexible payment options. More information	$2,200/year (incl. GST) OR $195/month min 1 year (incl. GST)
Essentials Essential toolkit for basic compliance including 4 types of contracts, 9 step-by-step processes, 50+ letters and templates More information	$950/year (incl. GST)