Many organizations use written codes of conduct as guidelines for ethical and socially responsible behavior. Regardless of the industry, most codes deal with quite similar issues. The Sarbanes–Oxley Act, triggered by the financial scandals around the year 2000, requires public companies to disclose whether they have adopted a code of ethics for senior financial officers.

In some firms, workers at all levels are required to sign the code of conduct. A written code of conduct is more likely to influence behavior when both formal and informal leaders throughout the firm refer to it frequently. Furthermore, adherence to the code must be rewarded, and violation of the code should be punished.