What would you do if you discovered a co-worker was stealing product or money?
Every interviewer has difficult choices ahead of them. It's their job to get to know every candidate, to ensure they haven't inadvertently passed by their target talent. They also need to distinguish top performers from unqualified candidates, or those who talk a good game but ultimately are not a good match for the role or their company culture. So, protecting their reputation among their customers, colleagues, and coworkers is dependent on recruiting the right people to deliver on their promises.
"I take my company's code of ethics quite seriously and would act accordingly. My current company's code of ethics is very akin to Zalando's, which I read through while researching the company. My reaction to employee theft would differ if it were a retail associate or a retail manager. If I were a manager and caught an employee stealing, I would be sad about it, but I would have to ask them to leave and would inform them that we would call them once when we'd come to a decision about what steps we would take next. I would be respectful, and discreet, to save anyone embarrassment or harm to their reputation. If I caught a fellow manager stealing, I would immediately inform our higher-ups and let them decide what course of action to take. However, If I were an associate, I would report the incident according to company protocol. I would avoid approaching the employee, as I would not want to make it a personal issue."
Both Zalando's code of conduct and their code of ethics are available online. Most companies post them publicly, sometimes as a page on their website, and other times as a PDF. But they can be found with a basic search. Here are a collection of passages from Zalando's Code Of Ethics:
"Based on fundamental values of honesty, respect, trust, and fairness, the Zalando Code of Ethics sets clear expectations for the professional, ethical, and responsible behavior of all employees. Be aware that failure to apply this code can result in disciplinary action, and may even result in a termination of employment, irrespective of grades or roles. Don't assume that others already know. If you have a question, wish to discuss a sensitive situation, or observe behavior that is not in line with our Code of Ethics, please speak up."
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