STUDY: Global PR Ethics Codes Lack Whistleblower Protections

A newly released independent analysis of global public relations association ethics codes reveals that when it comes to fostering “Speak-Up” cultures and empowering the global PR workforce to fight disinformation from within, the industry has some work to do. Data gathered by the London-based Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) documents that nearly no PR member associations of 24 worldwide include whistleblower protection clauses built into their published ethics codes for member conduct. The consequence: Many PR practitioners face greater fears of retaliation when pushing back on unethical communications tactics or…

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​One in five French employees say they have felt under pressure to compromise their organisation’s ethical standards, reveals Institute of Business Ethics’ survey

The Institute of Business Ethics has published a report which takes an in depth look at the results of a survey which asks French employees their views of ethics in their workplace. It reveals that 20% of French employees say that they have felt pressured to compromise their organisation’s ethical standards. This is an increase of +6 percentage points from 2015 (14%) and is higher than the 2018 average (16%) for the eight European countries studied. The figure is even higher for those in managerial positions (26% versus non-managers 16%).…

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​Trust in business to behave ethically reaches highest level since 2003, according to survey from the Institute of Business Ethics

The British public’s opinion of business’s behaviour has improved for the second consecutive year according to the latest survey conducted for the Institute of Business Ethics. The survey, carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the IBE, shows that the public’s general opinion about ethical business behaviour has reached the highest level since the survey began in 2003. Nearly two thirds (62%) of the British public now say they consider that business behaves ethically, compared with under half in 2003 (47%). Millennials show the most positive change in opinion…

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CIPR welcomes Institute of Business Ethics ‘Ethics at Work’ report

A report by the Institute of Business Ethics shows a worrying drop from 81% in five years to 70%, in the number of UK employees who agree with the statement “my organisation acts responsibly in all its business dealings”. 64% of UK employees believe “my organisation lives up to its stated policy of social responsibility” down from 78% in 2012. Only 54% of UK employees who are aware of misconduct would report it, although this is an improvement from the previous report in 2015. Pressures on staff to act unethically…

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