Managers expected to act ‘unethically’ in workplace

MORE than 60 per cent of managers have come under pressure to behave unethically at work, according to a report published today.

The study, which was conducted by the Institute of Leadership & Management and Business in the Community, found that 9 per cent of managers have been asked to break the law at work at some point in their career, while one in ten has left their job as a result of being asked to do something that made them feel uncomfortable.

The findings came despite 77 per cent of managers believing that, since the financial crisis in 2008, the general public’s expectations of UK organisations’ ethical behaviour have risen.

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Charles Elvin, the institute’s chief executive, said: “Business ethics have come under increased public scrutiny in recent years, but our research highlights just how many people are still facing ethical conflicts at work.

“As well as damaging a company’s reputation, we see that ethical failings can have a negative impact on employee happiness, loyalty and trust in their organisation.”