Report highlights unethical behaviour in workplace

Nearly two thirds of workers have experienced behaviour at work that would “probably result in widespread condemnation” if the public found out, according to a new survey by Warwick Business School. Yet 77% said their company made no changes as a result of unethical behaviour - such as harassment, sexism, theft and verbal abuse - being reported. 42% said that had negatively changed their perception of their workplace.

The survey, of nearly 1,000 workers, also picked up reports of physical abuse, conflicts of interest, misuse of company resources, racism and discrimination. Nick Chater, professor of behavioural science at Warwick Business School, said: “We see reports of a wide variety of unethical behaviours in the workplace. These have clear negative impacts on the well-being of UK workers and businesses, from disengagement and disillusion to increased stress and sickness. "The scale of the problem suggests that workers often feel unable to speak out against unethical behaviour, allowing it to continue unchallenged and potentially leading to further unethical actions.” More than 40% of those interviewed said they sometimes experienced unethical behaviour at work, while 9% said it happened more than half of the time. 8% encountered unethical behaviour most of the time and 3% said it happened all the time. Mid-level employees were the most likely offenders, followed by junior employees. While senior staff were least likely to behave in an unethical manner, those who did so tended to be the most regular offenders.