Ethics Pressures

According to a study commissioned by law firm Outten & Golden, over 20 percent of people employed in the US have either witnessed or have become aware of unethical or even illegal conduct in their workplace, but just under three-quarters of those feel comfortable reporting it. One-third of respondents said fear of reprisal would keep them from reporting, and a little over one-fifth said they have felt “pressured to compromise their ethics.” Another telling statistic: “13% of workers surveyed didn’t agree that their employer communicates honestly and openly, with that number rising to 21% for employees aged 55 to 64 — a cohort that ‘may represent the most senior employees with the greatest insight into employers’ behavior.’” Whistleblower protections tend to be under-publicized, contributing to the above results. For example, over 40 percent of respondents queried regarding government whistleblower programs were unaware of the programs and their protections. Within private industry, it may be even lower. A telling statistic from “Resume Now” found the following: “… nearly half of workers (47%) [surveyed] said they’ve considered leaving their jobs due to ethical inconsistencies, and another 36% said they’ve remained close-lipped about unethical practices to protect their jobs.”