Here is encouraging news. Despite the economic downturn, ethical behavior in the workplace has not declined. In fact, it may have even improved. In a sense it could be said that hard times bring out the better nature in workers. Maybe it’s the shared uncertainty and economic adversity, coupled with the need for commiseration. It’s hard to say.
But according to an article by Dennis O’Reilly on CNET.com, “Forty-nine percent of respondents to the 2009 survey witnessed some form of unethical behavior at work in the prior 12 months, down from 56 percent of respondents to the 2007 ERC survey. It’s not surprising that misuse of company resources was the most common act, reported by 23 percent of the respondents.”
Those who did witness unethical behavior or reporting it more frequently. The number of employees who observed unethical behavior and reported it increased by some eight percent.
Unethical behavior includes, email and Internet abuse, abusive behavior toward co-workers, lying to employees, conflicts of interest, and racial and sexual discrimination.
