Quality of code of ethics: an empirical analysis on the stakeholder employee
ISSN: 1747-1117
Article publication date: 28 October 2019
Issue publication date: 20 October 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse the quality of Code of Ethics from the point of view of employees. In particular, the research aims to investigate which are the companies’ characteristics that influence the publication of a Code of Ethics and the Code of Ethics Quality from the employee perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use Italian listed companies and perform a manual content analysis on their Code of Ethics based on keywords related to the stakeholder employees. The authors perform regression models to investigate the determinants, using financial reporting data and companies’ information (i.e. industry).
Findings
The findings show that Code of Ethics are developed among large firms. A healthy and safe environment and a clear leadership are developed by firms with high grow rates. Equal employment opportunities and competent leadership are developed by firms with low financial distress. The need of effective communication for consensus seems more visible in Public Administration. Private sectors pay more attention to competent leadership, while firms in Trade take care on equal opportunities for employees.
Originality/value
At present, much of the codes of ethics’ research are focussed on the content and the effectiveness of codes of ethics, on the reasons, on the benefits and limitations of this tool, but few studies investigate the quality of codes of ethics and, even fewer the specific stakeholder employees. This study aims to improve the debate related to the elements affecting quality in codes of ethics, with particular attention to the rules that guide the relationship between companies and their employees.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the participants at the Financial Reporting Workshop, Bologna (Italy), 14-15 June 2018 and at the European Accounting Association (EAA) annual congress, Milano (Italy), 30 May-1 June 2018.
Citation
Mazza, T. and Furlotti, K. (2020), "Quality of code of ethics: an empirical analysis on the stakeholder employee", Social Responsibility Journal, Vol. 16 No. 8, pp. 1377-1402. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-03-2019-0113
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited