Leaders do it, managers do it, even people of the cloth do it…

December 10, 2007 by Miki Saxon  

pantsonfire.jpg

Fudge, fibb, prevaricate, lie.

“Liar, liar, pants on fire!” Kids rarely turn in the culprit since that would be snitching, yet that doesn’t stop them from glorying when the liar is caught. But what about when kids grow up?

Seems as if it doesn’t change a whole lot.

Depressing as it is, according to the Ethics Resource Center ethical standards have nose-dived back to where they were in 2000.

According to the 2007 National Business Ethics Survey® (may require free registration)

Over the past year, more than half (56 percent) of employees surveyed had personally observed violations of company ethics standards, policy, or the law. Many saw multiple violations. More than two of five employees (42 percent) who witnessed misconduct did not report it through any company channels…

According to Dr. Patricia Harned, President of ERC,

“Employees at all levels have not increased their ‘ethical courage’ in recent years. The rate of observed misconduct has crept back above where it was in 2000. And employees’ willingness to report misconduct has not improved, either…

The good news is that the rate of misconduct is cut by three-fourths at companies with strong ethical cultures, and reporting is doubled at companies with comprehensive ethics programs.”

What do you think?

Is this the situation at your workplace?


Comments

10 Responses to “Leaders do it, managers do it, even people of the cloth do it…”
  1. Kelly says:

    Not at my workplace cause I’m the boss! ;)

    But we see evidence of this every day in our political leaders. Lying has become ok.

  2. Miki Saxon says:

    Well, I’m cynical enough that I expect it in politics. I’m really sick of it in business, but find it’s encroachment into the religious world amusing.

  3. Miki Saxon says:

    Well, I’m cynical enough that I expect it in politics, but you have to keep in mind that there are three kinds of lies—there are actual untruths, spin and those statements with which you disagree.

    I’m really sick of it in business, but find it’s encroachment into the religious world amusing.

  4. Denis says:

    well, bonobos and chimps do it so why should we abandon a tried and true technique to get what we want ? :o)

  5. Miki Saxon says:

    Yeah, monkey see monkey do:)

  6. Denis says:

    Well, I don’t want to be smug but technically they are apes, not monkeys of the homini tribe (same tribe as us humans).

  7. Miki Saxon says:

    Aw, go ahead and be smug. It’s not your fault that you never heard about metaphors:-D

  8. Mark says:

    The situation at my workplace is worse! Far worse!!! And I know factually that human rights are being violated all over retail – but its “accepted” by upper level “management” because it produces results???

    A man I work with was given a written warning two days ago for complaining about being reprimanded on the public selling floor in plain view and earshot of shoppers. He asked for an impartial witness and was told the operations manager was impartial!

    Problem is they get away with it – they’ve perfected their spin over the years and…

    Even the EEOC turns a blind eye…

    Money apparently buys immunity to the law.

  9. Miki Saxon says:

    Money has always bought special treatment and/or immunity—for individuals as well as companies.

    That’s the reason politicians everywhere always cut funding first from schools/children, then low income, especially seniors. Go for the weak, those with tiny voices, who move emotions, but not campaign funding.

Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!


About Us | Advertise with us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Get This Theme


All content is Copyright © 2005-2010 b5media. All rights reserved.