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
Life, death and art at the Stuart court. Book review.
Real estate, place adaptation and innovation.
Review and comment on the revised draft before July 11.
We are indeed now 10 years old, so go on and be bold !
Write about something you know, help us build and grow !
IHBC's 25th anniversary 2022 Aberdeen School.
A blended event and triumphant return.
New Construction Leadership Council Co-Chair selected.
Mark Reynolds succeeds Andy Mitchell as Co-Chair of CLC
Designing Buildings is 10 years old.
Types of work to existing buildings.
From alteration to deconstruction on DB.
Publication available
BSRIA Conference 2022, June 23.
Refurbishment for Net Zero.
In the sunshine things get hotter.
Understanding temperature in buildings on DB.
Giving power to the consumer on the road to net-zero.
A call for home energy management to be modernised.
How many different types can you think of ?
50th anniversary of the first Pride parade UK.
Looking back and fourth to what still needs to be done.
Cleaning up air quality and the Environment Act 2021.
Targets, impacts and action from ECA member.
Balkrishna Doshi wins Royal Gold Medal 2022.
Pioneering Indian environmental design Architect.
The greenest building is the one already built.
History of Temple Meads rewritten.
UK crying out for female tradespeople says CIOB research.
Currently standing at just 1%.
Find out more with BSRIA.
A cricket pitch is 1 chain long whilst 80 chains is a mile.
What is your pledge ?
Cabman shelters.
Changes come into force for F,L,O and S.
CIAT member reasons on why it matters.
Are there still ‘lessons to learn’ from Grenfell ?
Nine in ten civil engineers think so.
IHBC Annual School, 15-18 June.
The Jubilee® worm drive hose clip or Jubilee clip.
A trusted clip with a long history, worth celebrating.