Stop Outsourcing Your Ethics, Tech Leaders

An ethics committee is a group of people within a company responsible for addressing any ethical concerns related to the company’s actions. It is a cross-team initiative that can be made up of as little as five people. Ethics committees are not new and are commonly used in other industries to set guidelines for employee integrity.

It also carries the weight of impartiality, as the members could represent various interests from within the organization. The size is up to you – five people will do fine, but for better results, you should aim for fifteen teammates, like Google’s AI ethical team.

Effectively implementing ethics committees can greatly benefit a company, as long as they are structured correctly. It is important to establish a clear scope of responsibilities and authority for the committee and its members, including,

• Handling day-to-day ethical concerns
• Providing consulting and recommendations
• Identifying global ethical challenges
• Company’s role in addressing them
 

Additionally, creating a safe environment where committee members feel comfortable raising concerns without fear of personal repercussions is crucial. The committee should be understood as an advisor to the decision-making body and not be responsible for making decisions.

Setting clear boundaries and policies, such as excluding certain industries or projects, can also be helpful in navigating contentious ethical discussions.

It is important to also consider less obvious ethical issues, such as those related to sustainable development, and challenge industries, business models, and products that contribute to climate change.

In summary, employees are becoming increasingly conscious of the impact of the companies they work for and are more likely to seek out ethical companies to work for. As a result, companies should strive to align their values with their employees to attract and retain top talent. Furthermore, prioritizing ethics can also benefit a company in the long run.