The Thirteen Commandments: No. 13
"Be Ethical"
Because your company is involved in international trade, you affect the lives of people in many countries. Your company no doubt makes money and creates jobs, but that's not enough. To be a responsible, ethical corporate citizen, your company must dispense as much good will as possible.
You should not be doing this solely to avoid a public relations nightmare (although companies should be cognizant of this danger). More importantly, your company does not want a history of compromising basic morals. once that happens, it becomes increasingly difficult and costly to reclaim the high moral ground.
Fortunately, there are numerous resources and organizations to help guide your company in instituting an ethical code that is verifiable (don't be toothless) and that includes agents and contractors with whom your company deals.
