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In this issue of Setting the Example we share our perspectives on two ethical topics. The Ethics Bell Curve model provides a useful, practical framework to analyse ethics within an organisation and to define what action is warranted to improve ethical conduct and to create an ethical culture. Our article on ethical wellness shows that ethics can both reduce stress and act a source of wellness, and, as such, is certainly a goal worth pursuing. We have also included interesting material on big business putting (claiming to put) the shareholder value myth in the grave, on the results of the 2019 Global Corruption Barometer for Africa, and on Corruption Watch’s study of the terrible consequences of police corruption. And we are pleased to share our news about the multi-language Ethics Monitor option and our outsourced ethics service offering.
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ETHICS MONITOR NEWS:
ETHICS MONITOR: We are pleased to announce that the Ethics Monitor, our web-based, mobi-friendly survey that measures an organisation’s ethical status, is now available in multiple languages. A strength of the Ethics Monitor assessment has always been that it is extended to all employees (as opposed to a select sample). This new improvement enhances the results by allowing employees locally and internationally to complete it in their own language.
OUTSOURCED ETHICS PARTNER: Since many organisations do not have the necessary ethics expertise internally, we now offer a customised, outsourced ethics service. The package is customised per organisation to include, for example, an annual ethics assessment, regular engaging ethics talks and training, and board and leadership briefings and consultation. Enquire about this service.
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THE ETHICS BELL CURVE MODELA tool to analyse and define your organisation’s ethics programme
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The focus on workplace ethics – maintained by on-going ethical scandals – is widely shared by boards and leadership within the private and public sectors (excluding those entities still fighting to maintain the ‘benefits’ of an unethical approach!). Assuming that most (many?) organisations have the intention to behave ethically, the achievement of an ethical culture should follow. But that outcome rests on the quality of ethical understanding within the organisation about what to do.
Read more…
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ETHICAL WELLNESS: it’s a goal worth pursuing
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The view that ethics is the right thing to do enjoys wide support. However, the fact that ethics is also good for you is not as well recognised: ethics is generally not linked to wellness. Yet ethics can make a big difference in the workplace both to minimize negative issues and to optimize positive outcomes.
Read more…
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BIG BUSINESS PUTS THE SHAREHOLDER VALUE MYTH IN THE GRAVE
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Corporate responsibility has progressed a great deal since Milton Friedman’s 1970 claim that corporates only had a responsibility for profit for their shareholders. Today we would expect a much more inclusive approach that recognises that corporates have a responsibility to all their stakeholders. Notably, this was acknowledged by one of America’s leading lobby groups, Business Roundtable, and its 181 CEOs when on 19 August 2019 they signed a statement that “We share a fundamental commitment to all of our stakeholders”. Adding weigh to the statement is that fact that CEO signatories included Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase and the Roundtable’s chairman, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Tim Cook of Apple, Ginni Rometty of IBM, and Mary Barra of General Motors. Here’s hoping the good optics of the occasion are matched by underpinning intention.
Read more…
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2019 Global Corruption Barometer – Africa
In July 2019 Transparency International released its Global Corruption Barometer – Africa. Conducted between September 2016 and 2018, it provides detailed insight into citizens’ perceptions of corruption and their direct experiences of bribery in 35 countries in Africa. The survey includes questions on how citizens perceive corruption in government and public institutions and whether citizens pay bribes for essential services, like water, electricity and education. Noteworthy results include the following:
- % people who think corruption has increased:
- South Africa 64% | Average among 35 countries 55%
- % people think government is doing badly re corruption:
- South Africa 67% | Average 59%
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The terrible consequences of police corruption
By Sabeehah Motala, published in Corruption Watch July 2019 newsletter
What do we do when those mandated to protect us are serving other interests than public safety and security? In South Africa, police corruption leaves the public exposed to high rates of crime, and causes distrust of the police service while allowing crime to flourish. Read more...
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About Ethics Monitoring & Management Services (Pty) Ltd
Ethics Monitoring & Management Services
was started by Cynthia Schoeman to help organisations to improve ethics in the workplace and to encourage them
to manage ethics proactively. Cynthia developed The Ethics Monitor, a web-based ethics survey, which enables
organisations to measure, monitor and report on their ethical status. Ethics Monitoring & Management Services
also offers ethics talks, workshop, consulting and training.
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