Survey Shows UK Workers and Employers Rate Highly on Workplace Ethics

Media Release

6th September 2005

• 53% satisfied with employers ethical standards
• 29% believe that most companies have workers best interests to heart
• 21% approve of using office software at home
• 14% say its OK to take office supplies for personal use

An international survey on ethical behaviour in the workplace shows that workers in the UK are amongst the most honest in Europe and generally do not fall prey to a wide range of ethical breaches common in other countries, such as France, Germany and Spain.

The Kelly World at Work survey of more than 19,000 workers in 12 countries across Europe, conducted by global recruitment agency, Kelly Services, also found that just over half of those surveyed in the UK are satisfied with their employer's ethical standards.

“This survey shows that when it comes to ethical behaviour in the workplace, the majority of workers and employers in the UK are getting it right,” said Steve Girdler, Marketing Director of Kelly Services UK.

One finding is that UK workers rate their employers favourably when it comes to ethical standards, with 53% satisfied with their organisation’s ethical standards and practices.  This was significantly higher than most other countries in the Europe-wide survey. 

“Some organisations have a powerful culture which establishes a strong set of ethical principles, but many companies don’t give the proper emphasis to setting ground rules which will guide the organisation,” Girdler commented.

Just 29% of those surveyed believed that their employers have employees' best interests at heart. This contrasts with the figure from across Europe with almost half (48%) said they did not believe companies took employees interests seriously.

On an employee level the survey found that 14% of workers surveyed in the UK approve of taking office supplies home for personal use - along with Russia, the lowest of all countries surveyed.  It also found that 21% approve of using office software at home – the second lowest in the survey. 

A total of 31% approve of using the Internet for personal use during work time – the third lowest.  And just 3% say it’s OK to use unlicensed software at work – the lowest in the Europe-wide study.

Girdler said the findings reveal the real difficulty that many workers have in meeting high standards of ethical behaviour.

“At one end of the scale, using the Internet for personal use, within reasonable limits, may not be a serious issue. It becomes more problematic when people are stealing items belonging to their organisation or using unlicensed software, which is an offence and attracts heavy penalties.”

Girdler cautions: “In recent years, we have seen many instances of corporate misconduct at the highest level which reflects a breakdown in workplace ethics. It is important that employers communicate their values for an organisation which will make it clear at all levels, what is acceptable, and what is not.”

Kelly Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Troy, Michigan (USA), offering staffing solutions that include temporary services, staff leasing, outsourcing, vendor on-site and full-time placement. Kelly owns and operates 2,600 offices in 27 countries. Kelly provides employment for nearly 700,000 employees annually, with skills including office services, accounting, engineering, information technology, law, science, marketing, light industrial, education, health care and home care. Revenue in 2004 was US$4.98 billion. Visit http://www.kellyservices.com