Should an organization really oversee its own ethics reporting system?

Research has shown that the vast majority of companies’ ethics hotlines are not utilized effectively due to fear of retaliation. Why is that? What is the process of following up with a compliant? What scares one’s people from doing so?
When it comes right down to it, shouldn’t organizations want its people to report any ethics/compliances issues? Reporting them would be a reflection of the values that an organization has trained its people to believe in, communicated, and expect values based behavior in the workplace. Why then does a system fail when it comes to actually behaving in accordance with those values?
Can an organization really oversee itself? If organizations REALLY took their values seriously, they would be rewarding those who report violations of the core values on which a company says it’s based. In fact, the term ”whistleblower” would never be used, because it is degrading. Instead a term like, values advocate, should be used because they are reporting behaviors that challenge the very values and ethics that the organization trained them to embrace and that affect the morale, productivity and the workplace environment . If one’s own organization can’t see the value of this then something is seriously wrong. Maybe leaders ought to:
• Find another and/or additional options for overseeing the reporting of ethical/compliance violations.
• Find a system that will make all involved in investigating an issue accountable and responsible for the process and resolution.
• Find the proper reward, not punishment, for those who report violations.
• Make sure that anyone who violates the sacred trust of confidentiality, anonymity, and retaliates should be punished, i.e. terminated, suspended, etc.
Is this really that difficult? Do you believe in your values or not? Is ethics important or not? What lengths should you go to protect those who live those values for the betterment of all?

fbucaro

Like you, business ethics and ethical leadership expert, Frank Bucaro has seen the challenges and problems of corporate leadership, particularly over the past few years in regards to poor decision-making, SEC violations, and record breaking financial settlements in a number of different industries. With over two decades of executive training, speaking, writing and with real life experiences, his view and approach to ethics in the workplace is uniquely different. He emphasizes that ethics is a moment-to-moment choice and has little to do with position, titles, personalities or education. Ethics is everybody’s responsibility from the top down. His goal is to help organizations to: a. Strengthen their ethics training initiatives in order to significantly decrease the odds of an ethical/compliance violation. b. Energize, train and motivate employees to understand the value of consistent “high road” behavior as a business advantage. c. Support individuals and thereby the organization by contributing to its success by quality, ongoing values based leadership development. Frank is known for his very practical, slightly irreverent, yet somewhat humorous approach to ethics and leadership development. His conversational style and real life stories connect with his audience in a personal, intense and practical level. Companies such as Bayer Healthcare, BP, ReMax International, EnMax Energy, Danone, etc. have partnered with Frank when they want to proactively stress the message, tools, insights and practical applications that good ethics IS good for business!