Bad Business Ethics Is Bad Business

Ethical misconduct in business is more than a moral issue: Like fire or theft, it's a risk that can harm or even destroy a company. Morale and loyalty sink. Brand and firm reputation can suffer. The threat of legal action increases. Yet the latest National Business Ethics Survey by the Ethics Resource Center finds that ethical misconduct in the business world is soaring - reaching levels not seen since before the 2001 Enron scandal.

Of equal concern, according to the center, is that many employees are unlikely to report ethical misconduct when they witness it -- they're too scared of retaliation or don't believe any action will be taken. "At a time when the smallest of activities can attract substantial public attention, businesses are at risk when ethical misconduct is likely to occur but management is unlikely to know about it," the report warns.

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Source: Kiplinger