Cross-Cultural Ethics and Compliance: Going Beyond the Law to Shape Global Workforce Values
As globalization gains momentum, cross-cultural ethical issues are growing in importance among U.S. companies operating or seeking to do business in other countries. From finding ways to stamp out bribery and corruption to paying attention to religious and philosophical beliefs that shape how business is conducted in other countries, U.S. companies are redefining how they handle thorny topics that traditionally have been viewed in corporate executive suites as ‘‘soft stuff.’’
Such ethics- and compliance-based developments offer HR practitioners new challenges as well as opportunities. A good HR executive could be invaluable in crafting a ‘‘values-based approach’’ to ethics, instead of the compliance-based approach prevailing in the United States. The compliance-based approach generally equates desirable ethical behavior with just not breaking laws, ethics experts contend.
Related to this, corporations worldwide are magnifying their focus on corruption to protect their reputations and creating the socially responsible business models that investors and stakeholders increasingly expect.
In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice increasingly is cracking down on companies that violate federal laws such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Meanwhile, the international legal framework that companies are facing is changing fast and has been strengthened during recent years.
A looming challenge for many ethics and compliance officers is convincing employees around the world that ethical issues are not a passing fad.
Contents
- Introduction: The Challenge of Cross-Cultural Ethics
- Turf Wars Challenge Ethics Compliance
- Corruption Dominates Corporate Concerns Worldwide
- Legal Requirements Governing Corporate Ethics
- Creating a Global Code of Conduct
- Ethics-Based Challenges Going Forward
- Case Study: Alcoa Corp.
- Resources
The pdf for this report can be downloaded as part of your membership to International HR Decision Support Network.
For more information about International HR Decision Support Network or to arrange a complimentary demonstration with one of our Account Executives, please call 1-800-372-1033.
| 
