Most companies have zero tolerance for certain violations.
But what does zero tolerance mean? You might be surprised to learn that most employees (and many ethics professionals) believe it means that the offender faces certain termination.
In fact, zero tolerance simply means that the offender will not go unpunished. The punishment could be a demotion, or a suspension, or a written warning. It could also be termination, but that is not the only possible outcome.
If your company uses the expression “zero tolerance” in its code of conduct or in a policy, consider explaining its meaning to your employees.
The Ethical Leader 