I've just finished reading "The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics" on the Wings website, and I have to say it is both chilling and hilarious, and, for me, produced the same dizzying pleasure/horror effect that I get when I tune in to Pat Robertson on "The 700 Club," or when I see those tarted-up toddlers "wowing them judges" with blatantly inappropriate gyrations. One of my favorite quotes from the Code (and, yes the word "code" is capitalized in every instance it is mentioned. Orwellian, if you ask me) is, "As much as we'd like it to, the Code cannot address all situations or every practice and principle related to honest and ethical conduct." And the gem, "You are expected to report promptly any behavior, instance, occurrence or practice believed to be unethical, illegal, or at a minimum inconsistent with the Code. Appearances Count! Your report can be based on your perceptions as much as actual fact, as long as the report is made in good faith." Well, what the f!#@ am I supposed to do when I'm having an ethical dilemma, say an extreme set of circumstances has unfolded and I'm forced to decide between certain death or resorting to cannibalism, and the Code doesn't address that specific situation--as much as they'd like to, you see, they simply cannot address ​every​ situation or circumstance. The Code opens with dire productions of the reader's fate if the Code is not observed, up to, and including banishment to the Gulag. I'm going to start preparing my misconduct reports, I want to please the Code enforcers, and besides in cases where I don't have any actual information, my own perceptions will do just fine. I'm going to start with the feeling I get from certain members of management.
