Companies say code of conduct should apply in personal space too. Here’s why

If you are of the opinion that company’s code of conduct doesn’t apply in your personal lives, it might have to change.

In the backdrop of Janhavi Gadkar drunk driving case, most of the companies are becoming strict with any transgressions.
Companies have in the past parted ways with erring employees on this count.

RIL, where Gadkar works as VP (legal), issued an advisory to its employees, reminding them about its policy on personal conduct and this includes "drunk" driving and an employee's behaviour in their personal capacity.

The RIL note stated that in official as well as personal capacity, employees at no times should indulge in any action behaviour that violates any law; or is indicative of personal indiscretion; or is socially unacceptable.

Economic Times reported that companies like Indiabulls Housing Finance and Vedanta have already issued advisories to employees on the perils of drunk driving.

In Vodafone India's health safety and wellness policy, five out of eight 'absolute safety rules' are on road safety.

"Since 2012, we have parted ways with 30 employees and over 600 vendor set off-rolls individuals for not following the policy. Of these, seven (four employees and three off-rolls) were drink-and-drive cases. Mostly drink-and-drive is beyond working hours," a Vodafone spokesperson told ET.

Santrupt Misra, Director (HR), Aditya Birla Group, said an organisation has a right to take action if the behaviour of an employee violates its code of conduct."

Our general code of conduct governs many aspects of public behaviour that may have implication for the organization. Driving while drunk is against the law of the land and is covered by our code of conduct," Misra told the financial daily.

ET reported that defensive driving was one of the mandatory courses for employees at most companies like Hindustan Unilever and the Tata Group which extend beyond work hours.

"Even if any of the group employees are caught flouting traffic rules, we make an effort to counsel such offenders while sending an informal message across the line that violations will not be accepted," a Tata Group executive said.

A few have different rules.

S Ramesh Shankar, executive VP (HR), Siemens, told ET, while the organization takes a lot of preventive steps including continual education, "we cannot take action on any misconduct by our employees beyond our work premises and after office hours when they are not on official duties".

So, next time you think of bending company’s rule, think hard.

(Image: Indiatimes)