All employees must follow both the ethical and legal standards established by their company to ensure the success, professionalism, reputation, and protection of the company and themselves. Company Codes of Conduct should establish the key elements required by the company's founders or leaders, and promote ethical behaviors throughout every level of the company. Guidelines should be established for making ethically sound decisions, and consequences must be established for those employees who do not comply with the Code of Conduct.

High ethical standards in the workplace make the difference between that company's true success and its ineffectiveness and eventual failure. Students will read numerous case studies of company employees who violated an ethical code and sacrifice their own and the company's credibility, reputation, and exorbitant legal fees and penalties.