How to keep business ethics front and center

Description

Abstract: Acting in a less-than-honorable fashion not only can expose a business to possible criminal charges, but also can encourage employees and business partners to also act unethically. Fostering an ethical workplace requires management to value honesty and integrity, and hire employees whose values match the company’s. This article discusses the importance of management setting the tone at the top and of instituting formal policies — including strong internal controls — to ensure ethical behavior. A sidebar notes a survey showing that smaller businesses are particularly vulnerable to fraud.