Course Overview
Course Content
Lesson 1: Introduction and Objectives
What ethics means in the workplace, distinguishing ethics from legal compliance, why ethics matters (organizational reputation, employee morale, customer trust, legal protection), and the business case for ethical behavior
Lesson 2: Ethics: Principles and Laws
Six foundational principles of ethics: (1) Trustworthiness/Honesty, (2) Respect, (3) Responsibility, (4) Fairness, (5) Caring, (6) Citizenship, understanding that ethics goes beyond legal requirements (legal doesn’t always equal ethical), applying principles to workplace situations, and recognizing ethical gray areas where principles may conflict
Lesson 3: Organizational Ethics Programs
Key components of comprehensive ethics programs, codes of conduct and organizational values, ethics training and communication, leadership accountability and modeling ethical behavior, reporting mechanisms (hotlines, open-door policies), investigation procedures for ethics complaints, consequences for violations, and protections against retaliation for good-faith reporting
Lesson 4: Creating an Ethical Workplace
Individual responsibility for ethical culture, recognizing ethical dilemmas in everyday situations, step-by-step process for ethical decision-making: (1) Identify the ethical issue, (2) Gather relevant facts, (3) Identify stakeholders affected, (4) Consider available alternatives, (5) Evaluate options against ethical principles, (6) Make and implement the decision, (7) Reflect on outcomes, applying the decision-making process to realistic workplace scenarios, speaking up about ethics concerns, and creating an environment where others can raise concerns
Who This Course Is For
Certificate & Compliance
Upon successful completion, learners receive an official certificate of completion documenting their ethics training for organizational compliance records and HR documentation.
The course includes scenario-based assessments that verify understanding of ethical principles, decision-making processes, and reporting procedures. Certificates are generated immediately and can be downloaded or printed for employee files.
Supports Compliance With:
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines requirements for effective ethics programs
- Sarbanes-Oxley Act provisions on corporate responsibility and ethical conduct
- Industry-specific ethics requirements (healthcare, finance, government contracting)
- State ethics training mandates for certain organizations
- Organizational code of conduct and compliance program requirements
- Accreditation standards requiring ethics training

