The professional and ethical approach to HRM and L&D 121 HR professionals may often find themselves in a hardnosed, entrepre- neurial environment. But this does not mean that they can remain uncon- cerned about developing and helping to uphold organizational core values in line with their own values on the ethical principles which govern how people should be managed. These may not always be reconcilable, and if this is strongly the case, the HR professional may have to make a choice on whether he or she can remain with the organization. Professionalism in human resource management means acting in accord- ance with ethical standards. It means recognizing that there is an important ethical dimension to the work of HR professionals. All the more reason to be surprised that the current CIPD professional standards map issued in 2009 did not indicate that ethical considerations apply to HR at all apart from one passing reference to the need to adopt an ethical approach when managing conflict situations. Organizational codes of practice (ethics policies) Organizational codes of practice provide rules, policies and guidelines on