Surveys indicate that many workers are reluctant to report unethical practices, including stealing, in the workplace. Although a federal law (Sarbanes-Oxley) was passed to counter unethical corporate behavior and protect workers who report unethical activities, many employees still face loss of their jobs or ridicule if they “whistleblow” on corporate misconduct (Spherion, 2006).
Furthermore, it has been reported that nearly 25 percent of young workers aged 18–24 do not believe that stealing office supplies for personal use is wrong. Many steal employer property, including pens, pencils, paper, self-adhesive notepads, and paper clips without regard to the activity’s illegality. Employee theft costs American businesses over $40 billion each year (Wulfhorst, 2006).
Unethical behavior, dishonesty, and theft in the workplace often occur in a gradual incremental process. Theft, in particular, stems from a complex set of causes. Foremost among them is simply that an opportunity to steal arises, because the chances of getting caught are low. Additional causes include low workforce morale, employees’ sense that they are being underpaid, and minimal consequences for getting caught stealing (Walsh, 2000).
As seemingly insignificant misconduct and theft go undetected, perpetrators often rationalize larger transgressions. Even high level executives can become tempted to steal. Consider Dale Frantz, the former chief information officer of Auto Warehousing Company. Frantz embezzled more than $500,000 from his company during 2007–2009 and was sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison. He used a number of strategies to steal the funds, including writing up fraudulent invoices for expense reports and changing legitimate reports to maximize his reimbursements. In addition, he used company funds to buy computer equipment that he resold on the Internet (McMillan, 2010).
Do you believe that ethical behavior can be learned? If yes, who do you believe should take responsibility for teaching ethics?
If you observed a theft in your workplace, would you assume a leadership role and take action against the misconduct? If yes, what action(s) would you take?
Given your knowledge of the causes behind workplace theft, what steps would you advise organizations to take in order to discourage and minimize stealing by employees and thereby protect the organization’s assets?
How would you go about strengthening your ethical leadership skills?
Simulation exercises may be used to rehearse responses to various security scenarios such as armed security personnel conducting a simulation at a nuclear power facility.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Yes, I believe that ethical behavior can be learned. I believe that everyone is born with a certain set of moral values, but these values can be shaped and molded by our experiences and the people we interact with. In the workplace, it is important for organizations to create a culture of ethics where employees are encouraged to act ethically and where there are clear consequences for unethical behavior. Organizations can also provide training on ethics to help employees understand the importance of ethical behavior and how to make ethical decisions.
If I observed a theft in my workplace, I would assume a leadership role and take action against the misconduct. I would first speak to the employee privately and explain the importance of ethical behavior. If the employee was unwilling to return the stolen property or apologize for their actions, I would then take the matter to my supervisor. I believe that it is important to take a stand against unethical behavior, even if it means standing up to a coworker or supervisor.
Here are some steps that organizations can take to discourage and minimize workplace theft:
Create a culture of ethics where employees are encouraged to act ethically and where there are clear consequences for unethical behavior.
Provide training on ethics to help employees understand the importance of ethical behavior and how to make ethical decisions.
Implement strong security measures to protect assets from theft.
Monitor employee behavior closely and investigate any suspicious activity.
Create an anonymous reporting system so that employees feel comfortable reporting unethical behavior.
Here are some ways to strengthen my ethical leadership skills:
Read books and articles on ethics and leadership.
Attend workshops and seminars on ethics.
Talk to other leaders about their experiences in dealing with ethical issues.
Reflect on my own values and beliefs and how they influence my leadership decisions.
Be open to feedback from others on my ethical behavior.
I believe that simulation exercises can be a valuable tool for strengthening ethical leadership skills. These exercises can help leaders to develop the skills they need to make ethical decisions in difficult situations. For example, a simulation exercise might involve a leader being presented with a scenario where they have to decide whether to report an unethical act by a coworker. The leader would have to weigh the pros and cons of reporting the act, and they would have to make a decision that they believe is ethical. Simulation exercises can help leaders to practice making ethical decisions under pressure, and they can help leaders to develop the skills they need to lead their organizations in an ethical manner.
