Published on March 26, 2024
Ethical behaviour is intrinsic to the way business is conducted, a legacy inherited from the Founder of the Tata group, Jamsetji Tata. He believed that businesses must operate in a way that respects the rights of all its stakeholders and creates an overall benefit for society.
In line with this philosophy, TNF India - North organised a session on ‘Best Practices on Ethics’ in February 2024, in New Delhi, to share challenges, learnings and evolving trends in the area of business ethics along with recognising and celebrating the efforts of teams and individuals, and their commitment towards strengthening the ethical environment within Tata group.
During the session, speakers covered various aspects of ethical conduct within the Tata group, including the formal Tata Code of Conduct (TCoC) training at Board levels, e-learning modules on anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies, discussions on data privacy policy, effective communication of ethical concerns, outreach programmes for vendors, and Leadership in Business Ethics surveys, emphasising the importance of ethical leadership.
Jagdeep Singh, Partner, EY Leader, Forensic & Integrity Services, began the session by highlighting evolving trends in governance and technology while stressing the importance of compliance for growth. He shared insights from ethics-related investigations, showcasing new solutions that aid in adherence to guidelines. Ajay Dutta, VP - HR - North, IHCL provided updates on key enablers for ethical leadership and governance, emphasising the challenge of instilling ethics across diverse employee backgrounds and regions. Adding to the depth, Ajoy Jauhar, Head - Ethics, Air India, shared Air India's incredible journey of integrating ethics into its fabric. His account painted a vivid picture of the challenges faced and the triumphant spirit that characterised the successful integration of Tata values into the airline's ethos. Manick Sharma, Head - Ethics, Tata Play, outlined the use of technology to monitor and educate employees on TCoC adherence including translating guidelines into nine languages for regional inclusivity among both employees and vendors.
Wrapping up the session, Rohit Khosla, Chairman, TNF India - North and EVP of Operations, IHCL, extended a vote of thanks and summarised the key takeaways. The forum's engaging discussions left attendees with valuable insights and connections, reinforcing the importance of ethical conduct within the Tata group.