Strengthening Corporate Governance Through Legal Compliance and Ethical Codes of Conduct

Bambang Eko Turisno, Ery Agus Priyono, Yunanto Yunanto

Abstract


This study investigates the role and implementation of a company's code of ethics as a cornerstone of good corporate governance. The research aims to examine the contents of corporate codes of ethics, the enforcement of sanctions for violations, and the mechanisms for preventing actions that contravene ethical standards. The code of ethics serves as a guiding framework for employees, fostering professionalism, integrity, and commitment. It encapsulates normative ethics and facilitates the practical application of corporate values in daily activities. Findings reveal that the structure and content of codes of ethics vary across organizations, ranging from concise to highly detailed formats. Employees affirm their adherence through integrity and compliance pacts, establishing a mutual agreement on the disciplinary measures for breaches. Sanctions for violations are proportionate to the nature of the offense and may include multiple forms of disciplinary action. An appeal mechanism and oversight by designated supervisors ensure the fair implementation of sanctions. Furthermore, the Board of Directors plays a pivotal role in exemplifying ethical behavior and reinforcing compliance through decisive actions. This research underscores the importance of a well-defined and enforced code of ethics in fostering an ethical corporate culture and ensuring accountability within organizations.

Keywords


Corporate Governance; Legal Compliance; Ethical Codes; Accountability

Full Text:

PDF

References


Books:

Black, Henry Campbell., 1992, Black's Law Dictionary, 6th ed. St. Paul, Wisconsin, West Publishing;

Brooks, Thom., 2021, Punishment: A critical introduction, Oxfordshire, Routledge;

Hadjon, Philipus M., 1992, Pemerintahan Menurut Hukum, Surabaya, Yuridika;

Subekti., 2008, Pokok Pokok Hukum Perdata, Jakarta, PT Intermasa;

Wignjosoebroto, Sritomo., Hukum Dalam Masyarakat (Perkembangan dan Masalah) Sebuah Pengantar ke Arah Sosiologi Hukum, Malang, Bayumedia Publishing, 2007;

Seminar:

Santosa, Sigit P., 2006, Audit Internal, Yogyakarta, Seminar Nasional, YPIA;

Journals:

Abubakar, Lastuti, Anita Afriana, Ramalinggam Rajamanickam, and Efa Laela Fakhirah., Restorative Justice Approach in Corporate Dispute Resolution as Business Actor in Indonesia, Journal of Indonesian Legal Studies, Vol,9, no.1, 2024, https://doi.org/10.15294/jils.vol9i1.4573;

Adelstein, Jennifer, and Stewart Clegg., Code of ethics: A stratified vehicle for compliance, Journal of Business Ethics, Vol.138, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2581-9;

Ajax, Caitlin M., and Diane Strauss., Corporate Sustainability Disclosures in American Case Law, Ecology Law Quarterly, Vol.45, no.4, 2019;

Arjaliès, Diane-Laure, and Julia Mundy., The use of management control systems to manage CSR strategy: A levers of control perspective, Management Accounting Research, Vol.24, no.4, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mar.2013.06.003;

Aryani, Fajar Dian., The Judicial Policy of Ratio Decidendi regarding Corporate Criminal Liability towards Just Judgments, Indonesia Law Review, Vol,14, no.2, 2024;

Aspan, Henry, Rozaini Rosli, Fadlan Fadlan, and Irawati Irawati., Legal Mechanisms for Business Accountability: A Comparison of Soft and Hard Law in Indonesia, Law Reform: Jurnal Pembaharuan Hukum, Vol,20, no.2, 2024, https://doi.org/10.14710/lr.v20i2.59273;

Castro, Armando, Nelson Phillips, and Shaz Ansari., Corporate corruption: A review and an agenda for future research, Academy of Management Annals, Vol.14, no.2, 2020, https://doi.org/10.5465/annals.2018.0156;

Chen, Chu, Giorgio Gotti, Tony Kang, and Michael C. Wolfe., Corporate codes of ethics, national culture, and earnings discretion: International evidence, Journal of Business Ethics, Vol.151, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3210-y;

Choi, Taehee, Nakano Chiaki, and Zhou Zucheng., A Comparison of Business Ethics in China, Japan, and Korea, International Finance Review, Vol.23, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1108/S1569-376720240000023004;

Duh, Mojca, Jernej Belak, and Borut Milfelner., Core values, culture and ethical climate as constitutional elements of ethical behaviour: Exploring differences between family and non-family enterprises, Journal of business ethics, Vol.97, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0519-9;

Egels-Zandén, Niklas, and Henrik Lindholm., Do codes of conduct improve worker rights in supply chains? A study of Fair Wear Foundation, Journal of cleaner production, Vol.107, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.08.096;

Erwin, Patrick M., Corporate codes of conduct: The effects of code content and quality on ethical performance, Journal of Business Ethics, Vol.99, 2011, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0667-y;

Febriyani, Nur Hidayah, and Hartiwiningsih Hartiwiningsih., Corporate criminal liability post elimination of coal faba waste status from b3 waste category in Indonesia, Jurnal Hukum, Vol,38, no.1, 2022, http://dx.doi.org/10.26532/jh.v38i1.20971;

Finn, Rachel L., and David Wright., Privacy, data protection and ethics for civil drone practice: A survey of industry, regulators and civil society organisations, Computer Law & Security Review, Vol.32, no.4, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clsr.2016.05.010;

Furlotti, Katia, and Tatiana Mazza., Code of ethics and workers' communication policies: The role of corporate governance, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Vol.27, no.6, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2024;

Helin, Sven, and Johan Sandström., Resisting a corporate code of ethics and the reinforcement of management control, Organization studie, Vol.31, no.5, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840610372292;

Hernández Karolys, Cristina Alexandra., The Need of Companies to Adopt Codes of Business Ethics: Compliance as a Consequence of the Determination of Objective Corporate Responsibility by Anti-Corruption Law, Revista Juridica, Vol.3, no.60, 2020;

Issa, Ayman, and Antonio Alleyne., Corporate disclosure on anti-corruption practice: A study of social responsible companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Journal of Financial Crime, Vol.25, no.4, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-05-2017-0045;

Kim, Hun Joon, and Jason C. Sharman., Accounts and accountability: Corruption, human rights, and individual accountability norms, International Organization, Vol.68, no.2, 2014, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020818313000428;

Koos, Stefan., Civil Law, Conflict of Laws, and Extraterritoriality in the European Supply Chain Due Diligence Law, Hasanuddin Law Review, Vol.10, no.2, 2024, http://dx.doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v10i2.5535;

Korka-Knuts, Heli., Evaluating Corporate Accountability for Human Rights Violations: The (Uncertain) Efficacy of Administrative Sanctions under the EU Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, European Business Law Review, Vol.35, no.3, 2024, https://doi.org/10.54648/eulr2024028;

Kozáková, J., Filová, A., and Skýpalová, R., Ethical Management and Stakeholder Relations: Insights from Slovak Companies with Foreign Participation, Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, Vol.8, no.5, 2024, https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i5.3541;

Kruessmann, Thomas., Internal Investigations in Compliance Matters: What Role for Legal Professional Privilege in Europe?, European Business Law Review, Vol.32, no.2, 2021;

Leal, Rogerio Gesta, and Caroline Fockink Ritt., The Need of Companies to Adopt Codes of Business Ethics: Compliance as a Consequence of the Determination of Objective Corporate Responsibility by Anti-Corruption Law, Revista Juridica, Vol.3, no.60, 2020;

Lee, Stacey B., Informed Consent: Enforcing Pharmaceutical Companies' Obligations Abroad, Health and Human Rights, Vol.12, no.1, 2010;

López Jiménez, David, Eduardo Carlos Dittmar, and Jenny Patricia Vargas Portillo., New directions in corporate social responsibility and ethics: codes of conduct in the digital environment, Journal of Business Ethics, Vol,13, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-021-04753-z;

Macnish, Kevin, and Jeroen Van der Ham., Ethics in cybersecurity research and practice, Technology in society, Vol.63, 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2020.101382;

Mulyati, Nani, and Topo Santoso., Analysis of criminal liability of political parties in Indonesia, Indonesia Law Review, Vol,9, no.2, 2019;

Murphy, Patrick E., Developing, communicating and promoting corporate ethics statements: A longitudinal analysis, Journal of business ethics, Vol.62, 2005, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-005-0189-1;

Murphy, Patrick E., Implementing business ethics, Journal of business ethics, Vol.12, no.2, 1988;

Murphy, Patrick E., The relevance of responsibility to ethical business decisions, Journal of business ethics, Vol.90, 2009, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0378-4;

Onyango, Gedion., Whistleblowing behaviours and anti-corruption approaches in public administration in Kenya, Economic and Political Studies, Vol,9, no.2, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1080/20954816.2020.1800263;

Peterson, Evan A., Compliance and ethics programs: Competitive advantage through the law, Journal of management & governance, Vol.17, 2013, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10997-012-9212-y;

Reuter, Alexander., Systematically flogging the wrong: EU corporate fines violate the fundamental rights of shareholders–the European Commission as revenant of the Persian Great King Xerxes, European Business Law Review, Vol.32, no.4, 202;

Rosida, Heni, Aulia Maharani, Indah Maryani, Mikha Detalim, Ridwan Arifin, and Waspiah Waspiah., Law Reform in Corporate Criminalization in Environmental Damage Cases in Indonesia, Journal of Law and Legal Reform, Vol.4, no.4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v4i4.74133;

Ruban, Dmitry A., and Natalia N. Yashalova., 'Greening'business ethics in gold mining: Evidence from the codes of conduct, Resources Policy, Vol.74, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102322;

Scharrer, Barbara., Employees’ Acceptance and Involvement in Accordance with Codes of Conduct–Chinese Business Behaviour vs. Western Compliance Management Systems, Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, Vol.213, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.11.495;

Schonfelder, Karen, S. Ramakrishna Velamuri, and Wilson Liu., Evolution of international and Chinese anti-bribery and corruption compliance programs, Corporate Governance, Vol.16, no.3, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-07-2015-0097;

Schwartz, Mark S., A code of ethics for corporate code of ethics, Journal of business ethics, Vol.41, no.1, 2002, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021393904930;

Sofiani, Trianah, and Heris Suhendar., The Settlement Model of Non-Performing Financing Which is More Effective and Legal Justice in Sharia Financing Companies, Jurnal Hukum, Vol,40, no.1, 2024, http://dx.doi.org/10.26532/jh.v40i1.32794;

Sulistyowati, Sulistyowati, Agus Salim, Puspa Eriyani, and Siti Mastoah., Government Regulation Substituting the Law on Job Creation in the Perspective of Constitutional Law, Jurnal Hukum, Vol.39, no.2, 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.26532/jh.v39i2.33378;

Wang, Guangliang, Boang Tang, and Linyao Li., Are Good Deeds Rewarded? The Impact of Traditional Morality and Modern Responsibility on Green Innovation, Sustainability, Vol.16, no.22, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229834;

Wasser, Daniel, and Vagelis Papakonstantinou., Codes of Conduct in German Employment Relationships–A Measure to Adequately Implementing Compliance and Data Protection?, European Business Law Review, Vol.35, no.2, 2024, https://doi.org/10.54648/eulr2024014;

Webley, Simon, and Andrea Werner., Corporate codes of ethics: Necessary but not sufficient, Business Ethics: A European Review, Vol.17, no.4, 2008, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8608.2008.00543.x;

Yue, Cen April, Baobao Song, Weiting Tao, and Minjeong Kang., When ethics are compromised: Understanding how employees react to corporate moral violations, Public Relations Review, Vol.50, no.4, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2024.102482.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26532/jh.v40i2.40198

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


Jurnal Hukum Indexed by :

google_scholar onesearch garuda crosref onesearch sinta sinta scopus
Jurnal Hukum
   
Faculty of Law, UnissulaCopyright of Jurnal Hukum
Jalan Kaligawe Raya KM.4, Terboyo Kulon, Genuk,ISSN 1412-2723 ( Print )e-ISSN 2723-6668 ( Online )
Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, 50112