Draft:Corporate Ethics Committees

Historically, ethical practices in the financial sector were largely based on trust, and later, religious beliefs. After multiple financial troubles in the 20th century, like the Great Depression, the importance of ethical oversight was recognised.{{Cite journal |last1=Ejuma Martha Adaga |last2=Zainab Efe Egieya |last3=Sarah Kuzankah Ewuga |last4=Adekunle Abiola Abdul |last5=Temitayo Oluwaseun Abrahams |date=10 January 2024 |title=A Comprehensive Review of Ethical Practices in Banking and Finance |url=https://fepbl.com/index.php/farj/article/view/705 |journal=Finance & Accounting Research Journal |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=1–20 |doi=10.51594/farj.v6i1.705 |issn=2708-6348}} The first activity of companies actually taking action in setting up board committees like public responsibility committees took place in the 1970's, following the rise of social movements. The next wave of pressure emerged following numerous scandals in the turn of the century, like the Enron scandal and the WorldCom scandal in the U.S.{{Cite journal |last=Holcomb |first=John M. |date=2017 |title=Ethics and compliance committees of corporate boards: Rationale, domain, and skill sets of members |url=https://virtusinterpress.org/ETHICS-AND-COMPLIANCE-COMMITTEES.html |journal=Corporate Ownership and Control |language=en |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=114–121 |doi=10.22495/cocv14i4art10}}

Names for committees of this kind can differ greatly depending on the company and the origination. Common names are Public issues committee, Corporate responsibility committee and Sustainability committee. Groups under the name of an ethics committee might also often refer to a more compliance-focussed committee. This is where internal compliance with guidelines can be reported to and is discussed.

In corporate settings, an ethics committee is a group of people responsible for overseeing the ethical dimensions of an organization's activities, both internally and externally. The main responsibilities of the committee include ensuring the organization's ethical standards are clearly defined and documented, and ensuring adherence to these ethical standards within the organization and, where applicable, across external operations like supply chains or external stakeholders.{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=Dan |title=What is an ethics committee? |url=https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/lexicon/what-is-an-ethics-committee/#:~:text=This%20guide%20explores%20the%20function,%20importance,%20and%20operational,aspects%20of%20an%20organisation%E2%80%99s%20internal%20and%20external%20activities. |access-date=14 April 2025 |website=The Corporate Governance Institute |language=en-US}} In addition, codes of conduct are often implemented to promote values of integrity, accountability and transparency. They guide the ethical behaviour and decision making of institutions and their employees. While many institutions have a code of conduct, the way it is regulated and supervised can differ greatly.

It could also be argued that one of the functions of an ethics committee can be to restore or create confidence in the system, for example in banking.{{Cite journal |last=Kour |first=Manjit |date=2020 |title=Ethics and Ethical Practices in Banks: A Review of Literature |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350037170 |journal=International Journal of Business Ethics in Developing Countries |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=27–32}} This to restore trust that was lost after the numerous unethical practices and scandals as described earlier.

Compliance related issues are also often ascribed to an ethics committee. In this case, the committee provides a forum for employees to speak up about unethical behaviour within the organisation. However, in many companies, this task is carried out by a compliance department.

With the emergence of new technological developments came new ethical dilemmas. Examples of this can be how to handle the protection of personal (client)data, and how to manage the balance between convenience and confidentiality. But also how to deal with the implications of artificial intelligence, such as bias, accountability and transparency, and how to avoid the possible discrimination and unfairness resulting from the use of algorithms and data. Some companies have a separate ethics committee specifically for reviewing the ethics of their data management practices. These committees focus on ensuring that data is handled ethically and responsibly, addressing issues such as privacy, consent, and data security.

South-Africa has a Companies Act that prescribes that certain companies should have a social and ethics committee. These committees will oversee the company's social, commercial and ethical responsibility.{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Shaylyn |title=Social and Ethics Committees: The Basics |date=24 November 2020 |url=https://www.caveatlegal.com/blog/social-and-ethics-committees-the-basics/ |access-date=19 May 2025}} The introduction of the act ensured a legal obligation of a company's responsibility to their stakeholders.{{Cite web |last=KPMG |title=The oversight role of a Social and Ethics Committee |url=https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/pdf/2016/07/Oversight-role-of-social-and-ethics-committee.pdf |access-date=22 May 2025}}

This list is not exhaustive and subject to change.

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