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If Ethics Matter So Much - Why Do Half of Us Stand Idle When We See An Ethical Lapse?

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Paul Pelletier Project management key note speaker, author, corporate lawyer, and executive| Paul Pelletier Consulting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
The statistics are in; according to a survey conducted by VitalSmarts, 63 percent of employees regularly witness both minor and major ethical infractions, yet they report only half of that unethical behavior. Why?
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Stéphane Parent Self Employed / Semi-retired| Leader Maker Prince Edward Island, Canada
There are a few beliefs and values that often come against the decision to blow the whistle.
* I will not rat on my colleagues
* I mind my own business
* I stand up for myself
* I don't want to make a spectacle of myself

Of course, these stand in contrast to opposite beliefs such as
* I help those less fortunate
* I don't allow bad behaviour

These beliefs are cultural in nature. As you go across the globe their degrees will vary and, therefore, the interplay will result in different decisions.
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Vincent Guerard Coach - Trainer - Speaker - Advisor| Freelance Mont-Royal, Quebec, Canada
An excellent question Paul.

I think an other important factor in reporting has to do with the corporation.
- Is there a structure in place to report unethical behaviour?
- What is the history? have there be action or none action on reported events
- Is there a perception of potential back fire on your career?
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Al Taylor I.T. Contractor| Independent Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
@Hilarie...great post!

On a contract I was bullied and humiliated by a senior architect..I put up with it because I needed the $ . Senior management knew about the behaviour but did nothing. And this went on at a company that makes all of its employees take the annual ethics course......:)
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1 reply by Assadullah Memon
Jul 09, 2016 4:04 AM
Assadullah Memon
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Interesting post.
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Assadullah Memon Project Manager| IBM Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
A very good question to ponder on.
I think it is a personality issue and a lot on how we are brought up. If from childhood we are taught to stand up for weak we don't feel reluctant, and similar for the other side of the coin.

However, we should work together and try to support such behaviours in our work place. We need to protect the people who raises and informs about any abnormality.

I personally feel PMI has done an eccellent work to educate professionals in wrong doings.
Thanks.
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Assadullah Memon Project Manager| IBM Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Jul 08, 2016 7:47 PM
Replying to Al Taylor
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@Hilarie...great post!

On a contract I was bullied and humiliated by a senior architect..I put up with it because I needed the $ . Senior management knew about the behaviour but did nothing. And this went on at a company that makes all of its employees take the annual ethics course......:)
Interesting post.
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William Scarborough Vice President and General Counsel| PMI Pa, United States
The organization needs to have structures in place that make it safe for the individual to feel it is okay to report. Absent such structures the subliminal message ( intended or otherwise) that the organization sends is we don't want you to report anything.
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Paul Pelletier Project management key note speaker, author, corporate lawyer, and executive| Paul Pelletier Consulting Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Thank you all for your very interesting comments and ideas. Clearly, this topic resonates for us and for our profession. Having been exposed to an organization where ethics was a hollow cliche, I agree with Hilarie's remark about the impact of workplace culture and leadership. I also appreciate the perspective of William Scarborough on this topic. As General Counsel for PMI, I think his words ring true for all of us.

Keep the comments coming!
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