ACFE Fraud Results From time to time, I like to revisit the data on how frauds are uncovered in organizations and what can be done to mitigate such behaviors. According to a survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), 2026 Occupational Fraud: A Report to the Nations, a tip is the most common
How Should Companies Protect Against Occupational Fraud Read More »
Matching Moral Values of Employees and Organizations Conscious quitting is an emerging workplace trend where employees leave organizations because their personal values no longer align with company culture or leadership. A good definition is provided by AI: “Conscious quitting refers to the intentional decision to resign from a job when an individual’s personal ethics, values, or
Conscious Quitting Attracts Gen Z to Organizations That Share Their Values Read More »
Why Students and Employees Fear for the Worst We recently concluded the commencement season and one thing we learned is that students are not embracing the growing trend of AI in the workplace and fear they may lose job opportunities. I address this issue in today’s blog as well as why the use of AI
Ethics and AI: A Cautionary Tale Read More »
Ethical Leaders Must Lead by Example One characteristic of ethical leadership is to influence others. Management expert John Maxwell characterizes leadership this way: “A leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” The ethical leader understands that positive relationships built on respect, openness, and trust are critical to creating an ethical organizational
Is ‘Ethical Leadership’ An Oxymoron? Read More »
Why Have Rankings of All Professions Declined between 2019-2023? According to a Gallup poll during December 1-15, 2025, 78% of Americans consider nurses highly honest and ethical, making them the most trusted of 21 professions rated in Gallup’s annual measurement. Military veterans are next at 67%, followed by medical doctors (57%), and pharmacists (53%). The
Nurses Rank # 1 for Honesty and Ethics Read More »
Ethics Sage Speaks Out About Challenges to Civility and Ethical Leadership I have previously blogged about civility and workplace behavior. Last Monday, I posted a blog on my “Ethics Sage” blog site about the decline of civility in society. In it, I suggest that civility is not peripheral to ethics, dealing merely with manners. True
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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 and relevant professions as a
Are You a Destructive Leader? Read More »
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 Business Leaders Need a Tool
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The Company Failed to Walk the Talk of Ethics I have previously blogged about the failures at Boeing in production systems, inspections, internal audits, a safety culture, and reporting to the board of directors. One lingering question is: Why didn’t the board of directors at Boeing act to disclose the problems with the production design and manufacturing
Corporate Governance Failures at Boeing Read More »
Here’s When You Might Have a Toxic Work Culture A toxic work culture is one where employees do not feel fulfilled or safe and often complain about the dynamics of the workplace. The workplace is plagued by in-fighting, drama, and unhappy employees, and it may negatively affect productivity. Sometimes, the elements of the toxic work
Leaders Be Aware of the Signs of a Toxic Culture Read More »