Code of Conduct and Ethics

Our Code of Conduct and Ethics protects the interests of the public and the reputation of our profession. Our Royal Charter demands that we require all of our members – regardless of grade, role or specialism – to uphold the obligations of the code. We encourage our members and our wider community to review the code and use it to reflect on their practice.

This is something which we feel very strongly represents the profession at large. Professionalism itself is then captured through not only training and support but also our code of conduct. And, we recognize of course, that we're in a very fast changing world so we've been undertaking an extensive consultation and review of our existing code of conduct.

We've talked to you as members, we've talked to many people in the wider profession, to employers to Legal experts, to academics and to ethicists. And what we've understood is that we need to embed more deeply into our codes. The idea of ethical principles, such as civic virtue and stewardship, professional service and personal responsibility.

So, I'm delighted to announce that we're launching a new code which we are calling the new code of conduct and ethics that is based very much around these ethical principles as well and is very much tailored towards our profession and what we have learned through the last 10 years of the operation of our existing code.

The new code is going to be formally launched and take effect as of January 2023. But, you will also be able to read about the new code on our website from November. And we will be steadily issuing more guidance on how to understand the code and how it takes effect through our membership and beyond.

You can also access training on ethics and ethical practice. That's something which we've always had - and as part of our profession map in supporting behaviours capabilities and competencie,s which work alongside the code in professionalising what we do in our work as people professionals.

CIPD Chief Executive, Peter Cheese, explains the new Code of Conduct and Ethics, which came into effect on 1 January 2023.

New Code of Conduct and Ethics

On the 1st January 2023 our new Code of Conduct and Ethics came into effect.

The new Code has been brought up to date to make it even more relevant to the challenges faced by the people profession of today.

At its heart are five key virtues:

Positive and active impact on working lives
Civic virtue and stewardship
Good character
Professional service and competence
Personal responsibility

Read the new Code of Conduct and Ethics >

We encourage all members to familiarise themselves with the new code and use it to reflect on their practice.

Any potential Code breach that has occurred after January 1 2023 will be evaluated against the current Code of Conduct and Ethics.

Previous Code of Professional Conduct

Any potential Code breach that occurred before December 31 2022 will be evaluated against the previous Code of Professional Conduct.

All CIPD Members must commit to upholding and maintaining the standards and behaviours (‘obligations’) set out in our Code of Professional Conduct document. The standards apply equally to all CIPD members regardless of their level of membership.

These obligations are grouped under four principles:

Professional competence and behaviour
Ethical standards and integrity
Representative of the profession
Stewardship

Read the Professional Code of Conduct >

If you consider the Code to have been breached, please read How to submit alleged breaches of the code, which explains the matters that we can consider under the code.