Code of conduct
A code of conduct is a policy document produced by a company or organisation which sets out the principles that it intends to abide by. It is generally produced voluntarily (there is no legal requirement to do so), and helps to enshrine and clarify the values and principles of the particular organisation.
By committing to a set of principles, the code of conduct can be used internally as a guideline for employees to follow (often linked to standards of professional conduct), as well as externally as a statement of values and commitments. The code can provide benchmarks against which the performance of the company and its individual employees can be measured.
In construction, a company’s code of conduct may only apply to that particular company, or it can extend to subsidiaries. In rare cases, it may also apply to suppliers and subcontractors.
It should be written with consideration for the particular values of the company, the type of clients and services that are provided.
Issues that the code of conduct can cover might include:
- The operations of the organisation with respect to national and international laws.
- Anti-corruption, labour regulations, environmental standards, and so on.
- Guidelines for appropriate workplace behaviour.
- Examples of actions or behaviour that would constitute misconduct.
- Legal and ethical guidelines for relationships and interactions between employees, suppliers, clients, subcontractors, members of the public, and so on.
- Principles relating to harassment, conflicts of interest, waste management and recycling, sourcing, diversity, etc.
In the construction industry, many professionals will also be bound by professional or regulatory codes of conduct. For example, architects are bound by the ARB Code of Conduct, which lays down the standards of professional conduct and practice expected of persons registered as architects under the Architects Act. In addition, if they are members of the RIBA, they will be subject to the requirements of the RIBA Code of Professional Conduct.
See also: Code of practice.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Action programme for responsible and ethical sourcing.
- BEIS Reforming Regulation Initiative.
- Best practice.
- Chinese wall.
- CMA and IRM publish 2020 competition law risk guide.
- Corporate social responsibility in construction.
- Design-Build Institute of America DBIA.
- Diversity in the construction industry.
- Employee.
- Employee handbook.
- Ethical labour sourcing standard.
- Ethical sourcing.
- Ethics and the engineer.
- Ethics in construction.
- Gangmaster.
- International Ethics Standards Coalition.
- Investors In People award CIOB silver accreditation.
- Modern slavery and the supply chain.
- Professional.
- Standards.
- Why infrastructure transparency matters.
Featured articles and news
Designing sustainability and performance into buildings
Specifying and selecting sustainable resilient timber products.
Modifying wood to improve resistance to decay and movement.
A last minute, long look for built environment professionals.
The architecture of creative reuse. Book review.
Installing solar panels on listed structures.
Sustainable development global goals, history in progress?
"Unless we act now, the 2030 Agenda will become an epitaph for a world that might have been."
Mike Kagioglou FCIOB named CIOB President
'Sustainable Development Goals must be focus for construction'
BSRIA training; a look at what's on offer
From energy management to compliance training.
TESP video warns to beware of rogue trainers.
Highlighting the slippery tactics of non-approved providers.
New Building Safety Wiki launched
Boosting awareness and understanding of the new fire safety regime.
New playbook on AI in construction published by CIOB
How to get to grips with, and the best from AI.
Digital Construction Report NBS
BIM, cloud, off-site, immersive tech, AI, twins and sustainability.
ECA learning zone and industry focus video series
From updates and amendments to circular economy, emergency lighting and much more.
The Building People Communities Network
Celebrating and amplifying voices of the under-represented, this refugee week and pride month.
Pride of Place: queer heritage
Acknowledging and taking pride in LGBTQ histories.