Possible Deliverable
The client expects that certain standards are developed in the newly merged organization that sets the guidelines for expected and unexpected behaviour. It is obvious as the merger has created a precarious situation for the employees from both companies as they must have learned different guidelines during their employment term at PALEDENIM or UWEAR. Therefore, to settle employees and educate them about the new guidelines in the merged company, it is best if a new set of guidelines is developed that settles the employees from both companies. These guidelines will become part of the new code of conduct for the merged company and help employees to understand any new practices they need to be careful about.
The new code of conduct will define the expected behaviour from employees and the management. Both will be expected to follow set guidelines as it defines the ethical behaviour. Such guidelines work as a protection for companies as they need to ensure that employees understand unprofessional and unethical behaviour. Although such guidelines are used by companies expecting that these guidelines can prevent fraud and inappropriate behaviour, the merged company can only protect themselves from inappropriate behaviour and fraud by management and employees. Also, the company should also set up an ethics committee that helps in reviewing the guidelines over a period of time.
Current Code of Conduct
After the latest communication from the Tom Tramlin (CEO) of the merged company; I am aware that there are some basic guidelines that they have already thought about adding to their Code of Conduct. These policies include reporting violations and compliance with regulatory orders and laws. Reporting violations need to be placed to help the organization identify situations that they need to investigate and identify, if there are any violations by the management or any employee against the guidelines. Adding compliance measures to the code of conduct are also logical as it ensures that employees and the management are informed about laws and regulatory orders and punished for the mistakes.
Possible Additions to the Code
There are several guidelines that can be added to the Code of Conduct for the merged company. Some of them are;
- Using company’s resources are only permitted for business purposes and employees or management cannot use the resources for their personal benefits.
- The employees of the merged company need to make sure that they take care of potential conflicts of interests.
- Employees and the management need to make sure that company’s confidential details are protected.
- The newly merged company also needs to make sure that accurate accounting records are maintained in the company.
- The ethics committee needs to be formed that is used for reporting and investigating any auditing, accounting or disclosure concerns.
- The merged company needs to retain and dispose all records and documents of both PALEDENIM and UWEAR for the management of operations.
- It is essential that discrimination and harassment is prohibited in the newly merged company.
- Workplace environment is essential for the success of the merged company and they need to prohibit the use of alcohol and illegal drugs at the workplace.
- Protection of copyrights is also essential for the company, as it helps in growing the company and achieving the objectives.
- Employees and the management will also need to take care of the reputation of the merged company and ensure they avoid illegal activities.
- Employees and the management also need to make sure that they are not involved in giving or receiving gifts from clients.
- Employees and the management also need to be aware of the activities that can violate code and the disciplinary action that the company can take.
- Employees and the management also need to make sure they report code violations.
Standard Policies for UWEAR and PALEDENIM
PALEDENIM AND UWEAR need to ensure they add essential guidelines and policies in their code of conduct. As a newly merged company, UWEAR and PALEDENIM need to ensure they do not make strategic mistakes and they need to include guidelines that make the merger successful (Lomer, n.d.). Apart from reporting violations and compliance with regulatory orders and laws, there can be several other additions. Some of the standard policies that need to added are:
- Protecting company resources, assets, confidential information, copyrights, etc. needs to be the responsibility of the management and the employees. This means, employees and management of UWEAR and PALEDENIM need to work together and make sure they protect the merged company’s details.
- Since, the company is newly merged reporting code violations needs to be encouraged as problematic employees can be rooted out from the organization for failing to meet guidelines.
- All employees and new hires need to feel that the merged company provides them with a suitable work environment. Therefore, it is important that workplace discrimination and harassment is not tolerated and needs to be added to the guidelines.
- It is also important that accounting and auditing needs to be done ethically and records are maintained from the previous independent companies.
References
Lomer., D. (n.d.). How to Keep Ethics Intact When Companies Merge. Retrieved 25 January 2017 from, http://i-sight.com/resources/how-to-keep-ethics-intact-when-companies-merge/
