There are numerous reasons why a person might be prone to partaking in unethical behavior; for example, socioeconomic circumstances in combination with their moral values may influence their personal choices. When a person is in a financial situation where they are feeling desperate, if they don’t have positive moral values then there is a greater chance for them to steal or embezzle funds.
According to a Kessler International Survey, the level of dishonesty is increasing. Compared to the same survey in 1999, theft from employers rose from 79 percent to 95 percent in 2013. (Ives, 2014) The surveys also concluded that theft occurs less often with executives and owners compared to managers and employees. Since there is the tendency for groupthink to occur in some situations, it’s important for everyone to evaluate and reevaluate the situation prior to making any decisions. Another term to describe this phenomenon is herding, which can occur when decisions are made by a group without first researching information on the topic. (Price, Ph.D., 2013) It’s easy for a person in a position of authority to make decisions and to have others agree that the decisions are correct and ethical, when in fact they might be breaking anti-trust laws or committing other unethical or illegal acts.
One way organizations have been combating dishonest employees or those who might be tempted to steal is by implanting a comprehensive hiring practice that includes credit and background checks. The employee pre-screening procedures often give indicators of excessive employee debt, repeated check bouncing, and credit worthiness… (Gross-Schaefer, Trigilio, Negus, & Ro, 2000) By thoroughly investigating the candidates background the employer will decrease the likelihood of hiring an employee who may be prone to committing unethical acts. Of course, it varies by State and job position as to how comprehensive the background check can be legally. Furthermore, another way to ensure all employees in an organization are acting ethically and following regulations is to regularly audit departments, financial statements, as well as work quality. When the employees know the organization is working proactively to combat dishonesty, theft, and poor quality they usually will raise their work ethic to match what is expected.
References
Gross-Schaefer, A., Trigilio, J., Negus, J., & Ro, C.-S. (2000, July 2). Ethics Education in the Workplace: An Effective Tool to Combat Employee Theft. Journal of Business Ethics, 26, 89-100. Retrieved January 23, 2020, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.tuproxy.palni.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=03f7ad56-0094-4314-a624-cc4b834c96b3%40sdc-v-sessmgr01
Ives, T. E. (2014, November 1). Rampant: Workplace Theft and Embezzlement. Audiology Today, 60-62. Retrieved January 23, 2020, from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.tuproxy.palni.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=a5753274-b161-432f-a232-8fcb11a0cdbb%40sessionmgr4008
Price, Ph.D., M. E. (2013, June 25). Human Herding: How People are Like Guppies: Following the herd may seem prudent to individuals, but it's risky for society. Retrieved January 23, 2020, from PsychologyToday.com: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwin-eternity/201306/human-herding-how-people-are-guppies
Pyschology Today. (2020). Groupthink. Retrieved January 23, 2020, from PsychologyToday.com: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/groupthink
Comentarios