Companies that Act Ethically Have Edge in Recruiting Talent: Survey

Nov 2nd, 2009 • Posted in: News

In other business-ethics news, Uganda’s investment chief urges transparency, pointing to previous bank failures; a research study says a surprisingly simple act may improve ethical behavior

VARIOUS DATELINES
Several stories dealing with ethics came from the U.S. and international press last week. Among them:

• Companies that act ethically are likely to have better results in attracting talent, according to a recent survey by Michigan-based Kelly Services, Inc. According to a report in Crain’s Detroit Business, the Kelly Global Workface Index surveyed about 100,000 people in 34 countries across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. About 90 percent of respondents said they would gravitate toward a company perceived to be ethically and socially responsible. Fifty-three percent of baby boomers said they would forego pay or a promotion to work for an organization with a good reputation.
• A hygienic approach to ethics comes from Investor’s Business Daily, which reports that a study shows workers are more fair and generous when they work in clean-smelling environments. Researchers reporting their findings in the journal Psychological Science found a “dramatic improvement” in ethical behavior when a few spritzes of a citrus-scented cleaner were introduced into a room.
• The Monitor of Kampala, Uganda, reports that the nation’s minister for investment says that transparency, accountability, and ethical behavior are the most important factors in attracting investment to Uganda. Aston Kajara, speaking at the opening ceremony of a corporate governance workshop, said the recent failure of many banks in Uganda came after they neglected to follow those principles.

Sources: Kampala Monitor, Oct. 29 – Investor’s Business Daily, Oct. 28 – Crain’s Detroit Business, Oct. 28.

For more information, see: Related Newsline story, Oct. 19 — Related Newsline story, June 22 — Related Newsline Commentary, Feb. 16 — Related Newsline story, June 23, 2008 — Related Newsline story, Jan. 14, 2008.

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One Response »

1. Terence Egan on November 4th, 2009 at 9:05 pm:

   “Kelly Global Workface Index surveyed about 100,000 people in 34 countries across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. About 90 percent of respondents said they would gravitate toward a company perceived to be ethically and socially responsible. Fifty-three percent of baby boomers said they would forego pay or a promotion to work for an organization with a good reputation.”

   ‘Socially-desirable response’ bias is alive and well.

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