Two in Three Companies Do Not Provide Ethics Training to Employees: IABC Study

A recent global survey of over 1,800 communication professionals, conducted by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Research Foundation, found that an overwhelming 65 percent of respondents had not received any formal ethics training -- such as seminars, continuing education or training workshops -- from their employers. Many respondents noted that ethics was never given more than a cursory mention in their organizations, usually on the first day of employment when company policy manuals were distributed. Additionally, 70 percent of respondents reported studying ethics “not at all” or at a basic level, as part of the coursework for their highest earned degree.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2006 -- A recent global survey of over 1,800 communication professionals, conducted by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Research Foundation, found that almost two-thirds of companies surveyed did not provide education or training on ethical issues and matters to employees.

According to the IABC report The Business of Truth: A Guide to Ethical Communication, a majority of respondents agreed that ethical considerations are a vital part of executive decision making and that public relations and communication professionals should advise management on ethical matters. However, the research also revealed that an overwhelming 65 percent of respondents had not received any formal ethics training -- such as seminars, continuing education or training workshops -- from their employers. Many respondents noted that ethics was never given more than a cursory mention in their organizations, usually on the first day of employment when company policy manuals were distributed.

The IABC research also examined ethics education at the academic level and found that 70 percent of the respondents reported studying ethics “not at all” or at a basic level, while going through their studying for their highest earned degree. Only 8 percent of practitioners had “many lectures or readings,” 18 percent took “an entire course on ethics” and 4 percent had “more than one course on ethics or a specialization” in the subject.

The study also found that as practitioners gain a greater amount of work experience in the field, they tend to receive additional ethics training from their employers. The study found that 28 percent of practitioners with little work experience received additional ethics training, while 34 percent in the middle range of experience did, and 40 percent of practitioners with high degree of work experience did. Further, a proportionately greater number of males (43 percent) are likely to receive additional ethics training and education once they were hired than their female peers (32 percent).

“In this era of corporate scandals, it is vital that employers make it a priority to marry philosophical ethics education (“why” ethics matter) with practical and regular ethics training (“how” to implement ethical practices and display ethical behavior),” says Kellie Garrett, ABC, chair of the IABC Research Foundation. “This latest IABC report offers an employee training section with workbooks and PowerPoint training modules that can be used by practitioners to ensure that ethical values are embedded into the company’s culture and practices at all levels.”

The IABC study, The Business of Truth: A Guide to Ethical Communication, received responses from 1,827 communication professionals from around the world. In addition, qualitative data was collected through focus groups and in-depth interviews with senior and middle-level communicators in North America, New Zealand, Israel and Australia.

The study was led by Shannon A. Bowen, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Maryland, and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard and ROI Communications. For more information on the report, visit http://store.yahoo.com/iabcstore/buoftr.html or call +1 415.544.4700 or 800.776.4222.

Who do you think is the ethical conscience of an organization? Participate in IABC’s quick online poll and cast your vote at www.iabc.com/polls/1.

About IABC
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is a global network of communication professionals committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication. Established in 1970, IABC serves more than 13,000 members in 67 countries, 100 chapters and 10,000 organizations. For more information, visit www.iabc.com.

About the IABC Research Foundation
The IABC Research Foundation translates communication theory into practice, providing real-world knowledge and applications for the communication profession. Established in 1982, the Foundation is a tax-exempt organization with benefits to the donor under U.S. tax law. For more information, visit www.iabc.com/rf.

About the IABC Code of Ethics
Because hundreds of thousands of business communicators worldwide engage in activities that affect the lives of millions of people, and because this power carries with it significant social responsibilities, the International Association of Business Communicators developed a Code of Ethics for Professional Communicators. The Code is published in several languages and is available at www.iabc.com/about/code.htm.

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