Is 2020 the year ethics will become cool?

Do you feel like change is in the air? So much happened in 2019, economically, politically, it seems like we’ve kicked off 2020 with a collective “the rot stops now” attitude.

First inclination it’s not just me was reading this article by Gary Martin the head of AIM WA. In the article Gary talks about unscrupulous big bosses like those engaged in the finance industry participating the Royal Commission or those at the helm of wages scandals.

But then he drops a truth bomb, the majority of immoral behaviour comes from regular, everyday bosses.

“Ironically, much of the immoral behaviour in our workplace is driven by everyday bosses who might be beacons of best practice when it comes to personal integrity but unwittingly create workplace environments that allow the unethical behaviour of others to flourish.

Many bosses, for example, make it unsafe for workers to speak up about unethical behaviour in their workplace despite proclaiming that they have an open-door policy. 

They fail to encourage workers to report questionable behaviours and, on the odd occasion a concern is raised, find themselves ill-equipped to take appropriate corrective measures or protect a well-intentioned whistleblower.

Others mistakenly believe ethical issues are suited to post-mortem discussions only after some form of catastrophe has occurred. 

Even worse, some bosses apply excessive pressure on team members to reach unrealistic targets.”

It’s not just bosses who encourage a bit a fudging of the rules to get ahead, there’s also the bosses who turn a blind eye to bullying or other inappropriate behaviour in the workplace – or are a perpetrator themselves.

Then yesterday this article published on Inside Small Business popped up in my Facebook newsfeed.

It’s a vibe, I tell ya!

It’s easy enough for small business owners to think this isn’t about them, those articles are just about big business right, got nothing to do with me.

In a time of low unemployment and skills shortages it becomes evident who the unethical employers are.

Struggling to hang onto to staff while your peers have little disruption to staffing levels at all?

Struggling to attract applicants for vacancies when the competition next door has skilled candidates approaching them?

High absenteeism & low morale?

Are you picking up what I’m putting down here?

Skills shortage, regional living, FIFO; your up against a lot as it is, don’t let poor management practices be added to the list.

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