Code of Ethics in Companies A qualitative study from a Human Resources Association in Brazil

This study was developed along with companies which received the Human Resources Distinction Awards for their achievements in strategic management of people from 2010 to 2014, awarded by the Human Resources Association of Serra Gaucha (ARH Serrana). It aimed to understand how these companies awarded by ARH Serrana establish their ethics committees, and develop, communicate and implement their codes of ethical conduct. Data collection was performed with Qualtrics, and content analysis technique was used to analyze a script of open questions based on a qualitative approach. Data collection revealed that participants are aware of the importance of a code of ethics. However, based on the participants’ answers, it is noticeable that the establishment of a committee and the methodology employed to develop a code of ethics are not given the importance they deserve. ARH Serrana not only can convene management professionals but also could serve as a resource for developing the committees as well as the methodologies for establishing the code of ethics thus facilitating the organization’s ethical behavior.