Ethics

Once upon a time, having a reputation for integrity was enough to encourage goodwill and prevent unethical behavior. That’s not the case so much anymore. James Bone makes the argument that integrity is often viewed as a commodity – something to be bought and sold. This unfortunate perspective can lead to some risky behavior, not to mention ethical lapses.

When companies can’t hold on to their chief compliance officer, it may be because these organizations aren’t truly committed to a culture of ethics and compliance. In these cases, CCOs have little power, rendering them ineffective. So what’s left for a CCO to do when compliance clearly isn’t a priority at his company? Find an employer ready and willing to...

Incentives are having a significant and now measurable impact on corporate conduct and individual ethical behavior. Is it time for a mine sweep?

The outrageous price gouging of Mylan’s Epi{en is a classic example of a business’s false public face masking corporate greed. That it’s unethical is no question. Rather than executives looking out for their own best interests, they should be watching out for the best interests and well-being of their employees, customers and the public – it’s entirely possible to do...

Some of the most ambitious and highest-performing professionals find immense satisfaction in overcoming challenges. Others are driven by chiefly by financial reward, but it’s important for employees to find meaning in their work beyond the size of their paychecks. There’s an important lesson here for leaders hoping to build a culture of ethics.

Businesses that gain a reputation for unethical conduct don’t survive long. Leadership must remain watchful to ensure its practices reflect its code of conduct and that management “walks the talk” so as to foster a culture of compliance throughout the organization. Here, Jim DeLoach provides several indicators that could point to a flagging ethics program.

Regulators, boards of directors, stockholders, the compliance profession – there may not be much common ground here, but there are some items everyone is sure to agree on. The importance of a strong ethics and compliance program is one of them. But no one has done a great job of outlining specifically what an effective program looks like and does…

The temptation can be great to turn a blind eye to unethical practices (or to knowingly do wrong yourself) when you’re not likely to get caught. These situations are the true test of a person’s character, though. Acting ethically and with integrity is always the right way to go. Beware the morally gray areas.

Are you the “good” leader? Are you the rules and regulations leader? Are you the leader that rewards people for doing things?

Are you the “good” leader? Are you the rules and regulations leader? Are you the leader that rewards people for doing things? Author Frank Bucaro is a leading crusader-- speaking, training and writing-- on the benefits of ethics. He is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) and has been inducted into the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) Speaker Hall...

For some reason, ethics and compliance professionals rarely participate in big picture conversations about employee pay. It’s a strange state of affairs, given how many legal and ethical risks are involved. The wage gap is getting more and more attention, and firms with significant executive-to-employee wage disparities will answer to the court of public opinion sooner or later.

Making an ethical business decision is often straightforward. What’s hard is implementing that decision throughout the organization while fending off attacks from reputational predators (activists, bloggers, journalists, etc.). Business leaders need to take four key steps to bolster their E&C efforts.