Are professional people, like children, learning what they live?

If recent surveys of ethical practice in the workplace are any indication it seems that we as professional people must be on guard all the time against undue influences.

This occurred to me a few days ago when I read two recent posting by Chris MacDonald, a chap who blogs on business ethics.  The postings are entitled:

  1. Do you report unethical workplace behaviour?
  2. The state of global corruption

I was struck by the high percentages of observed unethical behaviour in the workplace.  For certain, some of it quite small stuff, but, it starts there.  Ask some of our politicians and captains of industry.

In the one posting, Chris reports, “A new study of ethics in Canadian workplaces suggests that 42% of workers have witnessed ethical breaches in the workplace, and nearly half of them failed to report such misconduct”.  He goes on to argue that it may be higher.

In Chris’ second posting, he reports on the findings of a world wide survey of corruption in 107 countries.  Why worry about what is going on in all these countries, you say?  Well, Canada is one of the countries.  Guess what percentage of Canadians think the following institutions are either corrupt or very corrupt?:

  • 62% think Political parties are either corrupt or very corrupt
  • 48% ……. Business ……
  • 47% ……. Parliament ……
  • 39% ……. Media ……

Interesting, eh?

If this perception of Canadians is only partially true, and extends to other segments of our society, it’s a toxic place we be in as far as ethics are concerned.

How is it possible to practice ethically with so much mischief about?  Continue to stand guard as most of us have in the past.

How does this relate to forensic engineering investigation?  Well, I’ve been asked in the past to write a forensic report that supported an argument – I didn’t.  And, I was asked recently to investigate a problem and “…show that we are right” – I explained that’s not how it works, that the justice systems requires us to be thorough, reliable, and objective.  The person accepted that, a little embarrassingly – they just didn’t understand.

For the rest of Chris’ postings – they’re a good read, and they remind us to be on guard:

On ethics in the workplace:

For the rest of this item, visit … http://www.canadianbusiness.com/blogs-and-comment/do-you-report-unethical-workplace-behaviour-chris-macdonald/

On corruption in the world, including Canada:

For the rest of this item, visit … http://www.canadianbusiness.com/blogs-and-comment/the-state-of-global-corruption-chris-macdonald/

I introduced you to Chris’ blog last April in a posting of my own at:

http://www.ericjorden.com/blog/2013/04/04/most-influential-business-ethics-blog-chris-macdonald-ph-d-blogger/

 

 

 

 

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