Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct - Purpose and Elements

Syllabus

• Purpose of a code of conduct 12 ATAR

• Elements of a code of conduct 12 ATAR

  • work hours

  • employee email use

  • employee internet use

  • employee privacy

  • employers monitoring of work emails, internet access and computer use

 Background

• A code of conduct is simply a set of rules that outlines the responsibilities and expectations of an individual, party or organization

• Companies use a code of conduct to display what is expected from each employee

How does this relate to IT?

All companies, big and small, often rely on a code of conduct to ensure the behaviour and actions of each employee is up to a certain standard

In IT, this relates to many aspects of the use of technology (e.g. the Internet and computers)
Examples of this are…
use of the internet while at work, for non-work related topics

• e.g. to run a private business

• e.g. to continually check Facebook and other social networking

Companies will outline their expectations in terms of using computers and the Internet in a code of conduct
 

Work Hours 

• The hours to be worked are documented. This would include work breaks

• The location of these may also be debated with some working from home, also documented

Employee Email Use

• The employer provides an email system for work purposes

• How much of this is used by employees for private use will vary

• Some employers understand this and turn a blind eye to it, or others may allocate authorised use during break times. It will be in the code of conduct

Employee Internet Use

• The employer provides internet use for work purposes

• How much of this is used by employees for private use will vary

• Some employers understand this and turn a blind eye to it, or others may allocate authorised use during break times. It will be in the code of conduct

Employee Privacy

• The hours to be worked are documented

• The location of these may also be debated with some working from home, also documented

Employers Monitoring Computer Use

• Employers are always very keen to run business as efficiently as possible. Interesting videos HERE

• If a business has 10 employees and they are often on the internet for non-work related topics then, in theory they are losing productive work time from those employees

• Is it right for an employer to monitor the computer use?

• http://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/policies-and-guides/best-practice-guides/workplace-privacy#emailinternet   Provides very good steps to having a code of conduct which is fair and equitable

FOR YOU TO DO

 1. The principal has asked students to contribute to a code of conduct for teachers at your school. What do you think should be in this teacher code of conduct?

Learn more from ...

1. Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_conduct

2. Check out an example of a Code of Conduct at https://www.sans.org/security-resources/ethics.php

3. Writing a code of conduct; How to - https://www.business.qld.gov.au/business/employing/taking-on-staff/staff-code-conduct/writing-code-conduct