What is Ethical Business Practice?

At the grassroots. The employees' perspective

Out of all the stakeholders touched by a company's ethical policy, its people are some of the most directly affected. So what does it mean to their working lives?

Well, being part of a socially responsible company means their value to the business is truly recognised. Essentially, it comes down to being respected. It's an acknowledgement that they deserve interesting and fulfilling jobs, good career development opportunities, fair pay, a reasonable work/life balance and a safe working environment. Additionally, there is a real focus on ensuring equal opportunities are available throughout the business world. This means both internally when it comes to things such as promotion, as well as in external recruitment, where candidates should be appointed on the strength of their talent alone. Any workforce should reflect the diversity of the population which it is drawn from.

At PwC, we pride ourselves on the support we give our people. Our development programmes give our employees the flexibility to make their own choices, learning the skills they need to enhance their careers. Similarly, our benefits package offers a range of services and perks that can be picked to suit each individual's needs. On top of that, we have societies for hobbies from cross-country running to tai chi, community volunteering projects, study leave for exams and achievement recognition programmes. It's all a part of our commitment to ensuring our people become everything they can and enjoy their working life.