When starting a new company, those creating it need to decide what the company will believe in and aims to live by. This is the company’s code of ethics. However, it doesn’t work alone, it works in conjunction with the company’s mission statement and policies.

Defining a code of ethics is an important step in creating a company. When laying out this code of ethics, the company has to determine what values are important to it and what lines it won’t cross. They will need to think about what the company wouldn’t do to get a client, to keep and client, and to make sure they meet their numbers for the quarter. From there, the framework of the code of ethics will be set.

A code of ethics will help a company to grow the way it wants to even as more people are brought in. New hires should be informed of the code of ethics from day one, through a channel such as human resources.

To make the code fit at every level, acquire input from employees since they see much of the day to day functions and what problems the company is actually facing. This is a good way to ensure the code of ethics won’t be dismissed by employees.

It can be difficult to balance the code of ethics so it is not too vague nor too specific. It also needs to be unique to the company. Something that may not be an issue for a larger company can cause huge problems in a smaller organization.

To make sure the code of ethics is well written and stays updated, companies should consult an attorney, like those at InnovaCounsel. They have the knowledge and experience to help a start-up company form a new code of ethics, or help an older company rework theirs to better fit society today.