When leaders mess things up, why are companies slow to deal with them?

just don’t get it!
With more reports about ethics/compliance issues multi billion dollar fines being paid out shouldn’t these companies hold their leadership accountable for the decision that caused these issues?
What’s the problem here?
Aren’t leaders supposed to:
• Set the tone for the work environment to be one that is positive, inclusive and empowering.
• Model the behavior they want others to emulate.
• Be the change they want others to embrace.
• Live the values they preach, promote and expect others to do the same.
If they don’t do these, why keep them?
How many chances should a leader of any organization have when they have done something wrong i.e. illegal, etc? How many? When these leaders are kept on board, doesn’t anyone see what happens to the morale of the employees? Don’t they understand that customers, both present and future are watching what happens to resolve these situations? Is it the legal process that keeps them in power? If so, what does that say about the effectiveness and the value of compliance training? I wonder if senior execs participate in their organizations compliance training program ? Certainly one can be unethical and yet complaint right?
Aren’t all employees expected to play by the same rules? If mid level leaders were to have done serious harm to the company would there be the same hesitancy to deal with them, or would they be dealt with immediately? Shouldn’t the “no exception” rule apply to ALL employees? In addition, what does this tell employees about the importance of all their compliance and ethics training when on one is held accountable?

And where does ethics come into play in situations like these? How often is the term ethics used with a leader’s wrongdoing? Why not? Because how do you prosecute someone for being unethical?
I just don’t get it.

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!