Which action best helps a leader ensure staff act in an ethical manner?

• A. Publicly posting a code of conduct in the faculty lounge
• B. Actively monitoring employee behavior
• C. Waiting for annual performance reviews to reveal issues
• D. Relying on staff to self-regulate without oversight

Answer: (B)

Ongoing accountability through active monitoring is essential for ethical behavior because it keeps ethics front and center in daily operations. When a leader actively observes processes, checks for compliance, and provides timely feedback, employees see that standards are taken seriously and that there are real consequences for violations. This steady oversight helps deter misconduct, as the perceived risk of being caught increases, and it reinforces the daily expectation that ethical choices matter.

Posting a code of conduct is helpful for setting clear expectations, but it remains passive without ongoing follow-up. Waiting for annual performance reviews is too slow to catch issues early or address them before they become entrenched. Relying on staff to self-regulate without oversight assumes everyone will consistently do the right thing, which isn’t reliable in practice. Effective ethics requires a combination of clear standards and consistent, fair monitoring to maintain trust and integrity across the team.