50% of Employees Don’t Report Workplace Misconduct. Do You Have Ethical Leaders?
Meaningful progress can’t happen without first creating ethical workplace cultures that value awareness and accountability.
Though Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are not new (the term can be traced back to the mid-1960s when anti-discrimination legislation was first passed), the recent boom in DEI programs dovetails with the growth of social justice movements in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Organizations responded with C-Suite level DEI roles and offered employee resource groups, making change seem imminent.
But intent doesn’t equal progress.
Recent research reflects a disappointing status quo, particularly when it comes to inclusion and accountability. According to Ethisphere’s 2023 Ethical Culture Report, only 50% of employees who witness misconduct such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination report it. That rate is even lower among Gen Z employees, who say they don’t speak up because they think action won’t be taken and they’re worried about retaliation.
Meaningful progress can’t happen without first creating ethical workplace cultures that value awareness and accountability.