What conduct expectations should a UK organisation include?

Expectations may cover respectful workplace behaviour, conflicts of interest, anti-bribery, confidentiality, equality and diversity, use of company property, and compliance obligations.

Should UK employers document corporate values and conduct standards?

Yes. A written policy helps communicate expectations clearly and provides a reference point for training, management decisions, and disciplinary processes.

Are corporate conduct expectations legally required in the United Kingdom?

While not usually required as a single standalone policy, many conduct topics reflect UK legal duties, including equality, anti-bribery, data protection, health and safety, and whistleblowing obligations.

How should a UK company communicate its values to employees?

They should be written in plain English, linked to everyday workplace scenarios, approved by leadership, and communicated through onboarding, training, and internal policies.

Can AI help create a Code of Conduct and Ethics for a UK business?

Yes. AI can help draft a tailored Code of Conduct and Ethics, but the document should be reviewed to ensure it reflects the organisation’s values and UK legal context.

How often should conduct expectations be reviewed?

It should be reviewed regularly, especially after legal changes, organisational restructuring, workplace incidents, or updates to company culture and strategy.

What is included in a UK Code of Conduct and Ethics policy?

A Code of Conduct and Ethics policy sets out expected behaviour, ethical principles, legal compliance standards, and consequences for failing to meet those expectations.

EN-GB>Governance>Code of Conduct and Ethics>Corporate Values And Conduct In The United Kingdom

Corporate Values And Conduct Expectations In The United Kingdom

Created: 8 Jun 2026

This article helps United Kingdom organisations understand how corporate values and conduct expectations guide ethical behaviour, accountability, and workplace standards. It is useful for drafting or reviewing policies within AI Generated Code of Conduct and Ethics for use in the United Kingdom.

Value or principle	Expected conduct	Workplace application example	Primary audience	Recommended use
Integrity
Honesty	Act truthfully and avoid misleading colleagues, clients or stakeholders.	Do not exaggerate product capabilities in a sales proposal.	All personnel	Policy statement
Anti-Bribery	Never offer, request, give or accept bribes or improper advantages.	Refuse a supplier payment offered to influence a tender decision.	All personnel, Suppliers	Behavioural standard, Training point
Integrity, Transparency
Appropriate Gifts And Hospitality	Give or receive only modest, legitimate and properly approved hospitality.	Record client hospitality in the gifts register before approval.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard
Integrity, Transparency, Accountability
Conflict Of Interest Disclosure	Declare personal interests that could influence work decisions.	Tell your manager if a relative works for a shortlisted supplier.	All personnel	Behavioural standard, Management guidance
Integrity, Accountability
Directors' Conflicts Of Interest	Avoid unauthorised conflicts between company duties and personal interests.	A director leaves the board discussion before a conflicted decision.	Directors and officers	Policy statement, Management guidance
Fairness, Integrity
Fair Dealing	Deal fairly with customers, suppliers, competitors and colleagues.	Do not use false claims to win a customer from a competitor.	All personnel	Policy statement
Integrity, Accountability
Anti-Fraud	Do not deceive others or falsify information for gain.	Do not submit inflated expenses or false timesheets.	All personnel	Behavioural standard, Training point
Transparency, Accountability, Professionalism
Accurate Records	Create complete, accurate and timely business records.	Record sales revenue only when the transaction is properly supported.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard
Integrity, Transparency, Accountability
Financial Integrity	Follow financial controls and report financial information accurately.	Do not approve an invoice without evidence of goods or services.	Managers, Directors and officers, Employees	Management guidance, Behavioural standard
Transparency, Accountability, Responsibility
Speaking Up	Raise genuine concerns about wrongdoing, risk or unethical conduct.	Report suspected invoice fraud through the whistleblowing channel.	All personnel	Policy statement, Training point
Fairness, Accountability, Respect
Non-Retaliation	Do not victimise anyone for raising a concern in good faith.	Do not exclude a whistleblower from meetings after a protected disclosure.	Managers, All personnel	Policy statement, Management guidance
Respect, Professionalism
Respectful Workplace	Treat colleagues with courtesy, dignity and consideration.	Listen without interrupting during a team discussion.	All personnel	Policy statement, Training point
Respect, Fairness
Harassment Prevention	Do not engage in unwanted conduct that violates dignity or creates hostility.	Do not make sexual jokes or comments about a colleague's race or religion.	All personnel, Managers	Behavioural standard, Training point
Respect, Responsibility, Fairness
Sexual Harassment Prevention	Support reasonable steps to prevent workplace sexual harassment.	A manager acts promptly after hearing repeated sexualised comments.	Managers, Directors and officers, All personnel	Management guidance, Behavioural standard
Fairness, Respect
Non-Discrimination	Make decisions without unlawful bias or protected-characteristic discrimination.	Shortlist candidates using role criteria, not age or disability assumptions.	Managers, Employees, All personnel	Behavioural standard, Management guidance
Respect, Fairness
Inclusion	Encourage participation and value different perspectives.	Invite quieter colleagues to contribute in a project meeting.	Managers, All personnel	Training point, Policy statement
Respect, Fairness, Professionalism
Bullying Prevention	Do not intimidate, undermine, humiliate or misuse power.	Do not repeatedly criticise a colleague in front of the team.	All personnel, Managers	Behavioural standard, Training point
Fairness, Respect
Equal Opportunity	Apply recruitment, promotion and development standards consistently and fairly.	Use the same scoring matrix for all interview candidates.	Managers, Directors and officers	Management guidance, Policy statement
Fairness, Respect, Responsibility
Reasonable Adjustments	Consider reasonable changes to remove disability-related workplace barriers.	Adjust working hours or equipment for a disabled employee where reasonable.	Managers, Employees	Management guidance
Accountability, Professionalism
Ownership Of Decisions	Take responsibility for decisions, actions and outcomes.	A project lead explains delays and agrees corrective actions.	Managers, Directors and officers, Employees	Policy statement, Management guidance
Accountability, Responsibility, Transparency
Timely Escalation	Escalate material issues, risks and mistakes promptly.	Tell a manager immediately about a serious customer data error.	All personnel	Behavioural standard, Training point
Responsibility, Integrity, Accountability
Legal Compliance	Follow applicable laws, regulations and internal policies.	Check regulatory requirements before launching a regulated product.	All personnel	Policy statement
Responsibility, Professionalism, Integrity
Data Protection	Handle personal data lawfully, fairly, securely and for proper purposes.	Do not email customer personal data to an unauthorised recipient.	All personnel, Contractors, Suppliers	Behavioural standard, Training point
Integrity, Professionalism, Responsibility
Confidentiality	Protect confidential business, personal and commercial information.	Do not discuss a takeover project in a public place.	All personnel, Contractors, Suppliers	Behavioural standard
Responsibility, Professionalism
Information Security	Use systems securely and protect credentials, devices and data.	Use multi-factor authentication and report suspected phishing emails.	All personnel, Contractors	Training point, Behavioural standard
Responsibility, Professionalism, Accountability
Acceptable Use Of Company Assets	Use company assets responsibly, lawfully and mainly for business purposes.	Do not install unapproved software on a company laptop.	Employees, Contractors, All personnel	Behavioural standard
Responsibility, Integrity, Professionalism
Intellectual Property Protection	Respect company and third-party intellectual property rights.	Do not copy licensed software or reuse protected images without permission.	All personnel, Contractors, Suppliers	Behavioural standard, Training point
Fairness, Integrity, Responsibility
Fair Competition	Do not fix prices, rig bids or share sensitive competitor information.	Leave a trade meeting if competitors discuss future pricing.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Training point, Behavioural standard
Fairness, Respect, Integrity
Customer Fairness	Treat customers fairly and communicate clearly about products and services.	Explain cancellation terms clearly before a customer signs an agreement.	Employees, Managers	Policy statement, Training point
Integrity, Transparency, Responsibility
Responsible Marketing	Ensure marketing is truthful, evidence-based and not misleading.	Keep evidence for environmental or performance claims in adverts.	Employees, Managers, Contractors	Behavioural standard, Training point
Integrity, Responsibility, Accountability
Preventing Tax Evasion Facilitation	Do not facilitate tax evasion by customers, suppliers or colleagues.	Reject a request to issue an invoice to disguise the true customer.	All personnel, Suppliers	Behavioural standard, Training point
Integrity, Responsibility
Anti-Money Laundering Awareness	Report suspicious transactions and follow due diligence controls.	Escalate unusual payment routing requested by a new customer.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Training point, Behavioural standard
Responsibility, Integrity, Accountability
Sanctions Compliance	Follow sanctions screening, restrictions and escalation requirements.	Pause onboarding if a customer matches a sanctions screening alert.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Training point, Management guidance
Responsibility, Respect, Integrity
Modern Slavery Prevention	Do not tolerate forced labour, trafficking or exploitative labour practices.	Escalate signs that agency workers are controlled by a third party.	All personnel, Suppliers, Contractors	Policy statement, Behavioural standard
Responsibility, Fairness, Integrity
Responsible Sourcing	Choose suppliers using ethical, legal and quality-based criteria.	Assess high-risk suppliers for labour, bribery and safety concerns.	Managers, Suppliers, Employees	Management guidance, Behavioural standard
Integrity, Responsibility, Professionalism
Supplier Integrity	Require suppliers to meet ethical, legal and contractual standards.	Include anti-bribery and confidentiality clauses in supplier terms.	Suppliers, Managers	Policy statement, Management guidance
Responsibility, Respect, Accountability
Health And Safety	Work safely and protect the health and safety of others.	Report a trip hazard and follow safe equipment procedures.	All personnel, Contractors	Policy statement, Behavioural standard
Respect, Responsibility
Employee Wellbeing	Support a working environment that considers stress, workload and wellbeing.	A manager reviews workload when a team member reports stress.	Managers, Employees	Management guidance, Policy statement
Responsibility, Professionalism
Fitness For Work	Do not work while impaired by alcohol, drugs or other substances.	Do not operate machinery after taking impairing medication without advice.	All personnel, Contractors	Behavioural standard
Responsibility, Accountability
Environmental Responsibility	Reduce waste, use resources responsibly and follow environmental controls.	Dispose of electronic waste through approved recycling processes.	All personnel, Suppliers, Contractors	Policy statement, Training point
Transparency, Integrity, Responsibility
Accurate Sustainability Claims	Make environmental claims that are clear, accurate and substantiated.	Do not call a product sustainable without evidence for the claim.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Training point, Behavioural standard
Transparency, Professionalism, Respect
Clear Communication	Communicate accurately, clearly and at the right time.	Tell a client promptly about a material delivery delay.	All personnel	Policy statement, Training point
Professionalism, Accountability
Competence	Perform work with appropriate skill, care and preparation.	Seek review before advising on an unfamiliar regulated issue.	All personnel	Policy statement, Training point
Professionalism, Respect
Professional Conduct	Behave in a manner that protects trust in the organisation.	Use respectful language in emails, meetings and customer calls.	All personnel	Behavioural standard
Accountability, Fairness, Respect
Responsible Use Of Authority	Use management authority fairly and for legitimate business purposes.	Do not allocate poor shifts to punish someone for raising concerns.	Managers, Directors and officers	Management guidance
Fairness, Accountability, Respect
Fair Performance Management	Set clear objectives and address performance consistently and evidenceably.	Give specific feedback and time to improve before formal action.	Managers, Employees	Management guidance
Fairness, Accountability, Transparency
Fair Investigations	Investigate concerns impartially, promptly and with appropriate confidentiality.	Separate the investigator from the person deciding disciplinary action.	Managers, Directors and officers	Management guidance
Fairness, Accountability
Procedural Fairness	Apply disciplinary and grievance processes consistently and fairly.	Give an employee the chance to respond before a disciplinary decision.	Managers, Employees	Management guidance, Behavioural standard
Transparency, Integrity, Responsibility
Political Neutrality	Keep personal political activity separate from company business.	Do not use company email to promote a political campaign.	All personnel, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard, Policy statement
Integrity, Transparency, Responsibility
Responsible Donations And Sponsorship	Approve donations and sponsorships through proper controls.	Check a charity donation is not linked to winning a contract.	Managers, Directors and officers, Employees	Management guidance, Behavioural standard
Professionalism, Responsibility, Respect
Responsible Social Media Use	Use social media without harming confidentiality, respect or reputation.	Do not post confidential client details or abusive comments online.	All personnel	Training point, Behavioural standard
Transparency, Professionalism, Accountability
Authorised Public Communications	Make public statements only when authorised and properly briefed.	Refer a journalist's enquiry to the communications team.	All personnel, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard
Integrity, Transparency, Responsibility
Inside Information Protection	Do not misuse non-public price-sensitive information.	Do not trade shares after learning confidential acquisition plans.	Directors and officers, Employees, Contractors	Training point, Behavioural standard
Accountability, Responsibility, Professionalism
Records Retention	Keep records for required periods and dispose of them securely.	Do not delete records subject to a legal hold or investigation.	All personnel	Behavioural standard, Training point
Responsibility, Accountability, Professionalism
Privacy By Design	Build privacy controls into projects that use personal data.	Complete a data protection impact assessment for high-risk processing.	Managers, Employees, Contractors	Management guidance, Training point
Accountability, Transparency, Responsibility
Incident Reporting	Report security, safety, legal and ethical incidents promptly.	Report a lost laptop immediately to IT and your manager.	All personnel, Contractors	Behavioural standard, Training point
Accountability, Transparency, Integrity
Cooperation With Reviews	Cooperate honestly with audits, investigations and regulatory enquiries.	Provide requested documents without alteration or concealment.	All personnel, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard, Management guidance
Accountability, Integrity, Responsibility
Ethical Leadership	Set a visible example of ethical conduct and sound judgement.	Leaders decline improper hospitality even where commercially tempting.	Directors and officers, Managers	Policy statement, Management guidance
Responsibility, Accountability, Integrity
Values-Led Culture	Promote decisions consistent with the organisation's stated values.	A manager rewards ethical escalation, not only revenue results.	Directors and officers, Managers	Management guidance, Policy statement
Responsibility, Accountability, Professionalism
Responsible Use Of AI And Technology	Use AI and technology lawfully, securely and with human oversight.	Check AI-generated client advice before sending it externally.	All personnel, Contractors	Training point, Behavioural standard
Respect, Responsibility, Integrity
Respect For Human Rights	Respect human rights across operations and business relationships.	Assess supplier risks in countries or sectors with labour exploitation concerns.	Directors and officers, Managers, Suppliers	Policy statement, Management guidance
Responsibility, Respect, Accountability
Safeguarding	Protect children and vulnerable adults where work creates safeguarding risk.	Report a safeguarding concern raised during service delivery immediately.	Employees, Managers, Contractors	Policy statement, Training point
Fairness, Integrity, Accountability
No Favouritism	Do not give unfair advantage to friends, relatives or close contacts.	Exclude yourself from interviewing a close friend for a role.	Managers, Employees, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard, Management guidance
Integrity, Accountability, Professionalism
Timekeeping Integrity	Record working time, leave and attendance honestly.	Do not ask a colleague to clock in on your behalf.	Employees, Contractors, Managers	Behavioural standard
Integrity, Accountability, Transparency
Expense And Procurement Integrity	Claim and approve only genuine, reasonable and properly evidenced costs.	Attach receipts and business reasons to travel expense claims.	All personnel, Managers	Behavioural standard, Management guidance
Professionalism, Accountability, Responsibility
Responsible Remote Working	Work remotely securely, productively and in line with role expectations.	Take calls privately when discussing confidential client matters at home.	Employees, Managers, Contractors	Behavioural standard, Training point
Fairness, Respect, Accountability
Fair Work Allocation	Allocate work fairly, realistically and with regard to capability.	Avoid repeatedly giving unpopular tasks to the same employee without reason.	Managers	Management guidance
Transparency, Respect, Accountability
Constructive Challenge	Challenge decisions respectfully where risks or ethical issues arise.	Ask for evidence before approving a high-risk supplier appointment.	All personnel, Managers, Directors and officers	Training point, Management guidance
Transparency, Integrity, Accountability
Regulatory Candour	Engage with regulators honestly, accurately and through authorised channels.	Do not conceal relevant facts during a regulatory inspection.	Directors and officers, Managers, Employees	Management guidance, Behavioural standard
Accountability, Integrity, Transparency
Document Preservation	Preserve relevant records when disputes, audits or investigations arise.	Stop routine deletion after receiving a legal hold notice.	All personnel, Managers, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard, Training point
Fairness, Integrity, Responsibility
Competitor Information Boundaries	Avoid exchanging commercially sensitive information with competitors.	Do not share future pricing or customer allocation plans at an industry event.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Training point
Responsibility, Respect
Community Responsibility	Consider the impact of business decisions on local communities.	Plan site works to minimise disruption to neighbouring businesses.	Managers, Directors and officers, Employees	Policy statement, Management guidance
Respect, Fairness, Responsibility
Accessibility	Make services, information and workplaces accessible where reasonably possible.	Provide meeting materials in an accessible format when requested.	Managers, Employees, Contractors	Policy statement, Training point
Transparency, Accountability, Professionalism
Decision Rationale	Record the reasons for significant decisions and approvals.	Document why a sole-source supplier was selected.	Managers, Directors and officers	Management guidance
Accountability, Integrity, Responsibility
Responsible Use Of Company Funds	Spend company money prudently, authorisedly and for legitimate purposes.	Obtain approval before committing spend above delegated authority.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard, Management guidance
Accountability, Professionalism, Responsibility
Delegated Authority	Act within approved authority limits and approval processes.	Do not sign a supplier contract above your approval threshold.	Employees, Managers, Directors and officers	Behavioural standard, Management guidance
Transparency, Accountability, Integrity
Openness About Mistakes	Acknowledge mistakes promptly and help remedy their impact.	Tell a client and manager when an incorrect report has been sent.	All personnel	Training point, Policy statement
Respect, Fairness, Accountability
Respectful Complaint Handling	Handle complaints seriously, respectfully and without prejudgement.	A manager listens to a grievance before forming conclusions.	Managers, Employees	Management guidance, Training point

What Should A UK Code Of Conduct And Ethics Cover?

A strong UK code of conduct should translate corporate values into clear day-to-day expectations covering integrity, respect, accountability, fairness, transparency, professionalism and responsibility. It should address higher-risk areas such as bribery, conflicts of interest, discrimination, harassment, whistleblowing, data protection, health and safety, competition law, modern slavery, financial reporting and misuse of company assets.

Which Conduct Standards Are Legally Sensitive In The UK?

Some values-based expectations overlap with UK legal duties. Anti-bribery expectations should reflect the Bribery Act 2010, equality and harassment standards should reflect the Equality Act 2010, data handling rules should align with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, and workplace safety expectations should reflect the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. These topics usually need more precise wording than general values statements.

How Should Corporate Values Be Used In A Policy?

Values should be split between policy statements, behavioural standards, training points and management guidance. Policy statements set the organisation's commitments; behavioural standards tell personnel what to do; training points support judgement in grey areas; and management guidance helps leaders apply standards consistently.

Who Should The Conduct Expectations Apply To?

Most expectations should apply to all personnel, including employees, contractors, directors and officers. Some standards need targeted wording: directors and officers need duties on conflicts, governance and financial integrity; managers need expectations on fair treatment and reporting culture; suppliers need standards on bribery, modern slavery, confidentiality, data protection and responsible sourcing.

Corporate values and conduct expectations

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FAQs

What is the purpose of a Corporate Values and Conduct Expectations page?

It explains how UK businesses can define corporate values, set conduct expectations, and align employee behaviour with ethical, legal, and professional standards.

What are corporate values in a UK business context?

Why are conduct expectations important for UK companies?

What values are commonly included in a UK Code of Conduct and Ethics?

How do corporate values relate to a Code of Conduct and Ethics?

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