Ethical Misconduct at Work: Not Always Reported

Remaining Silent on Unacceptable Behaviour

Remaining silent when witnessing an unethical situation at work contributes to the persistence of unacceptable behaviour, which can be detrimental to wellbeing and motivation.

According to a recent international survey, employees are not systematically reporting misconduct.

The Results of a Recent Survey

The Institute of Business Ethics and the Compliance Institute surveyed over 12,000 employees from 16 countries on ethical matters in the workplace. While the overwhelming majority of those surveyed believe their employer takes such issues seriously (71%), they claim to still see ethics breaches in their company.

Frequency of Misconduct

A quarter of those polled said they were aware of misconduct or illegal activity at work, up from 18% in 2021. In detail, 20% of employees who had reported misconduct said they were aware of sexual harassment, and 13% of bribery or corruption.

Why Employees Don’t Report

But not all employees feel comfortable reporting such incidents – 34% don’t do so because they feel it would serve no useful purpose, while others remain silent for fear of damaging their career (34%).

The Consequences of Silence

However, this is not a wise choice, as ethics help create a healthy and respectful working environment. Remaining silent when witnessing an unethical situation contributes to the persistence of unacceptable behaviour, which can be detrimental to wellbeing and motivation.

The Importance of Reporting

As such, it has been demonstrated that employees can be more inclined to leave a company where they perceive ethical issues or value conflicts, even if these do not affect them personally.

Creating a Reporting Framework

It’s important for companies to establish a framework for reporting misconduct, and to take formal steps to curb unwanted behaviour. This could involve company-wide written standards in business conduct, while training courses could also be organised to help employees identify ethically unacceptable situations.

Conclusion

It is essential for employees to feel comfortable reporting any unethical conduct they witness, and for companies to provide a framework for doing so. By doing so, we can create a healthier and more respectful working environment, reducing the need for employees to feel that they must remain silent.

FAQs

• What is the frequency of misconduct in the workplace?

According to a recent survey, a quarter of employees are aware of misconduct or illegal activity at work, up from 18% in 2021.

• Why do employees not report misconduct?

34% of employees do not report misconduct because they feel it would serve no useful purpose, while 34% remain silent for fear of damaging their career.

• What are the consequences of not reporting misconduct?

Remaining silent when witnessing an unethical situation contributes to the persistence of unacceptable behaviour, which can be detrimental to wellbeing and motivation.

• What can companies do to promote ethical conduct?

Companies can establish a framework for reporting misconduct and provide training courses to help employees identify ethically unacceptable situations.