Civility in the Workplace

How to Build a Civil Workplace Environment I have blogged on my "Ethics Sage" blog site before about civility in the workplace and the forces that have created a decline in good behavior. The loss of civility in the workplace mirrors that of society. Today, we experience rudeness more than... Read more →


Why Do Americans Lie in the Recruiting Process?

Do Recruiters Lie as Well? I have observed that college students often lie about their qualifications, skills, and grade-point average in the hiring process. It seems the younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) rationalize lying as being acceptable more than generations in the past. Some have told me that lying... Read more →


The PwC-Australia Tax Scandal

A Conflict of Interests The PwC-Australia tax scandal was caused by a conflict of interest between PwC's work advising the Australian government on tax laws and its work advising corporations on how to avoid those laws. This conflict of interest came to a head in 2015, when PwC leaked secret... Read more →


Remote Work: Good, Bad or Indifferent?

Potential Effects of Remote Work Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has remained a popular option, though some believe it has drawbacks, including interpersonal and mental health challenges. According to a study by Quantum Workplace, 32% of employees prefer to work fully remotely, 41% prefer a hybrid work setup, and... Read more →


Pet Peeves in the Workplace

Here is What Annoys Me the Most Pet peeves are annoying behaviors that other people do, and which irritate someone. Pet peeves are particularly irritating because they often tap into our values, preferences, or past experiences. When something bothers us, it can feel like a personal affront, even if it... Read more →


Are You a Destructive Leader?

Characteristic Behaviors of “Leadership” to Avoid I have been reading a lot about destructive leaders. Until now, most of my writings have been about ethical leaders. For example, I have written that ethical leadership means individuals behave according to a set of principles and values that are recognized by society... Read more →


Ethical Decision Making in the Workplace

A Simple Tool for Ethical Decision Making in the Workplace A friend of mine, Paul Falcone, who is well known in the HR field, posted an article on LinkedIn. I greatly appreciate his letting me use it for today's blog. It has a lot of great advice. HR Managers and... Read more →


Has Ernst & Young Struck a Blow for Ethics?

When Should an Audit Firm Walk Away from a Client? I worked for Arthur Young longer ago than I choose to remember. I always felt the firm was committed to ethical behavior, and for the most part it was. I can remember a training session where a video was shown... Read more →


Dating in the Workplace: The Do’s and Don’ts

Are You Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places? Dating in the workplace is fraught with potential problems, not the least of which is a conflict of interest for a superior who has to evaluate an employee but is also dating that person. Can the supervisor rate the employees’... Read more →