December 1998
The Director - Features
Virtue is its own Reward
Guidelines for creating a code of ethics
Does your funeral home have a code of ethics? If so, do the employees (as well as the owners and managers) of your firm comply with it? Writing a code of ethics for your funeral home is more than just putting words down on paper—it's establishing a set of rules with which every person affiliated with the firm must comply. In addition, there should be punishable consequences if the code is violated—or it is meaningless.
Creating a code of ethics should be taken seriously and those developing it should thoughtfully contemplate its contents. Virtue is its own Reward—Guidelines for creating a code of ethics examines areas of concern that should be covered when establishing a code of ethics and gives examples that are often included in the codes of many funeral homes.
The article was written by Ralph Klicker, Ph.D., president of Thanos Institute and a senior consultant with Kuper Consulting Group.
The article also includes a sidebar highlighting the text of NFDA's Code of Ethics. A beautiful, 8-1/2" x 11" certificate of NFDA's Code of Ethics is available free to members. To receive a copy, call 800-228-6332 and ask to speak with a member services representative.
