According to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), more than 40% of the 145 respondents said that on occasions where tone from the top had been undermined, it was due to leadership actions not matching the ethical message being delivered.
The report questions whether organisations are paying only lip service to ethical behaviours or whether they are effectively measuring and reporting on the ability of the organisation and employees to act with integrity.
The issue is all the more relevant with the Ministry of Justice soon to publish the ‘adequate procedures’ companies will need to demonstrate, if they are not to be caught by the new Bribery Act. The Act has powers to hold management liable for abuses within their own businesses, sales channels or supply chains.
Elsewhere, the report finds the CEO is seen as the primary custodian of culture in a business, followed by heads of finance, chairmen and heads of human resources. It also ranks the relative importance of elements that make for an ethical business culture. ‘Consistent and frequent messaging’ and ‘oversight and monitoring of decision-making’ are seen as two of the most important areas, yet both of these are where the biggest perceived shortfall in management performance is seen.
Companies are responding to ethical breaches on different levels though performance here is still uneven. Almost two thirds (65%) of respondents said their organisations had issued warnings or reprimands when unethical behaviour had come to light; 57% had dismissed individuals; and 27% had terminated a business relationship.
Tracey Groves, director, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said: "Today, almost all companies articulate sets of ethical values and principles, though many are still struggling to walk the proverbial walk at senior levels.
"More stringent regulation and new UK legislation with a wider net are two reasons this issue is moving up the corporate agenda. A further motivating factor is that organisations will gain competitive advantage by strengthening the organisation's value and goodwill with investors and customers through the building of integrity and trust."
