So how will you take your ethical culture to the next level?

What does all that has gone on with the leadership of FIFA, of Military generals, Congressmen resigning over ethics issues,to name a few, have to say about the leadership training all received? Who/What provides the “checks and balances?”
How about taking the time to do an “ethics check” to help pinpoint some of issues that cause these types of things to keep occurring?
Here’s an “ethics check,” to help evaluate what may need your focus and commitment.
1. Is the study of ethics an integral component of your compliance/ethics training program?

2. In what ways, is the importance of ethics and emphasis on ethical behavior communicated and encouraged and reinforced?
3. Do you have a code of ethics that is different from your code of conduct? If not what does that say to your people?

4. Are there plans for an ethics reinforcement program for your Board of Directors?
5. Are the ethics training initiatives for ALL employees from the top down?

6. In what ways is your ethical culture being perceived and marketed as a business advantage?

7. Are compliance and ethics clearly understood as being complementary and not synonymous?

8. Is the training budget for ethics training separate from the compliance training and is it funded proportionately and equally?

9. Are ethics programs perceived as an expense or as an investment?

10. What is training being planned and implemented this summer to take your ethical culture to the next level?

It’s only June and there is plenty of time to use these questions as a springboard for a very productive summer. Take some time this week to start the process. If not now, when?