Is our Ethical Climate Weakening?
Turbulent economic times often portend a reduction in ethical behavior. 
In the January-February 2009 issue of Loss Prevention Magazine, Thomas Matthews cites a recent Corporate Executive Board (CEB) survey, which discovered that, “As the economic crisis worsened across 2008, survey research from more than 1,000 employees across multiple industries shows a weakening ethical climate and, correspondingly, more observations of misconduct.”
Matthews’ recommendation is to “counter these negative trends by coaching senior management on how to exemplify and communicate integrity and use periodic employee training and messages to emphasize how a strong culture enables better performance and morale.”
Now, more than ever, enterprises must focus on strengthening their corporate cultures to place higher value on ethical conduct, compliance, and productivity. A renewed focus in these areas will lead to higher performance and sustainable success.
