As you enter the corporate world, you must always be mindful of your behaviour, actions and words. Also, every organisation has a set of work ethics that have to be followed at all times. Communication and best practices for work ethics go hand in hand.

Imagine you are running your own company. What standards of interpersonal behaviour would you like to set across the team? How would you ensure the right culture is in place?

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Let’s hear some valuable advice from Rakesh on how to maintain integrity at the workplace. He will also brief you about how to operate in different work cultures. So, let’s get started.

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Well, Rakesh has put into perspective some best practices for work ethics. Let’s quickly summarise the key takeaways from the video:

The corporate world has no place for biases and professionals have to mix up freely with different kinds of people, such as those from the opposite gender, other races, and cultures. The one thing that professionals must be mindful of is that they have to maintain professional boundaries.
You must not discuss your personal life at the workplace. Also, you should steer clear of certain sensitive topics such as politics and other social issues in a professional setup.
Keep in mind the following elements of work ethics in a professional set up:
- Treat every individual with respect
- Treat everyone equally
- Ensure interpersonal communication regardless of prejudices
There are certain best practices for work ethics that you must always act in accordance with at the workplace. They are:
- If you are at a senior, powerful position, do not abuse that power.
- Gossiping at the workplace about seniors or colleagues is discouraged. One should refrain from such conversations, especially if it has the potential to harm someone.
- Do not share confidential information or email with your friends or colleagues from other teams. It is considered unprofessional.
- Never share inappropriate or pornographic images, messages or conversations at the workplace. It can lead to serious consequences.
- Be neutral, consistent and ethical in interpersonal communication.
In case of any doubts in the processes or any other issues, approach your managers instead of going with your gut feeling. Always seek clarity in matters related to the workplace.
If you are working or will be working with people from different cultures and countries, please seek help from your colleagues or seniors who have worked with such people. The best way is to get acquainted with their culture to avoid any miscommunication.
Do not hide important work-related information from your team members or other related departments.
Ask your organisation’s HR department about the guidelines on workplace ethics and code of conduct. Go through the guidelines to be aware of these.

At the workplace, your aim should be to create a cohesive and trustworthy environment. The aforementioned guidelines will put you on the right path in achieving your aim.

In the next segment, you will learn about adaptability at the workplace.