Search
 

Female leaders face higher ethical pressures

Women are left to deal with bigger ethical dilemmas in the workplace.

By Dan Cook | Updated on March 23, 2016
Photo: Getty Images

Despite what you may have taken away from the TV show Mad Men, men and women are equally committed to following the ethical code of the workplace. However, women more frequently find themselves at risk when it comes to the ethics of ethical business behavior. 

A study from the Ethics and Compliance Initiative, a nonprofit that supports workplace ethics, reports that “in terms of ethics and compliance, female workers are at much greater risk than their male counterparts. That enhanced risk applies to female leaders as well as lower-level female employees.” 

The study cites three major risk areas for women leaders:  

  • Women in senior leadership positions are more likely than men at the same level to feel pressure to compromise company ethics standards and/or the law; 

  • Women are more likely to experience retaliation for reporting misconduct; 

  • Women are more likely to doubt their leaders’ commitment to workplace integrity.  

The survey team interviewed employees about their beliefs regarding their leaders’ commitment to workplace ethics.  

Complete your profile to continue reading and get FREE access to BenefitsPRO.com, part of your ALM digital membership.

Your access to unlimited BenefitsPRO.com content isn’t changing.
Once you are an ALM digital member, you’ll receive:

  • Critical BenefitsPRO.com information including cutting edge post-reform success strategies, access to educational webcasts and videos, resources from industry leaders, and informative Newsletters.
  • Exclusive discounts on ALM, BenefitsPRO magazine and BenefitsPRO.com events.
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com

Already have an account?

NOT FOR REPRINT

© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.

Dan Cook

Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.

More from this author

Dig Deeper

Recommended Stories

BenefitsPRO

Join BenefitsPRO

Don’t miss crucial news and insights you need to navigate the shifting employee benefits industry. Join BenefitsPRO.com now!

  • Unlimited access to BenefitsPRO.com - your roadmap to thriving in a disrupted environment
  • Access to other award-winning ALM websites including ThinkAdvisor.com and Law.com
  • Exclusive discounts on BenefitsPRO.com and ALM events.

Already have an account? Sign In Now
Join BenefitsPRO

Copyright © 2024 ALM Global, LLC. All Rights Reserved.