The current wave of corporate scandals has raised concerns about ethical standards in the workplace among both employers and job seekers. As much as 47 percent of American companies' net worth is tied up in intangible assets like brand equity and reputation, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Thus, companies like Arthur Anderson, Enron, and Worldcom have paid a big price for their lack of integrity.
   
"For companies to survive and thrive in today's economic climate, they
need to devote some resources to their ethical standards. Questionable
business practices are a clear 'red flag' for job hunters," says Tony Lee, editor in chief of CareerJournal.com. "Even in a poor economy when jobs are scarce, job seekers should research the ethics programs of potential employers before it endangers their tenure, retirement savings and self-esteem."
   
CareerJournal.com advises job hunters to ask prospective employers the
following questions:

• Is there a formal code of ethics?
• Are workers at all levels trained in ethical decision making?
• Do employees have formal channels available to make their concerns known confidentially?
• Is misconduct disciplined swiftly and justly within the organization?
• Is integrity emphasized to new employees?
• How are senior managers perceived by subordinates in terms of their own integrity?

See also:

Establishing a Code of Ethics: Some requirements for getting an ethics program started.

Bouncing Back from Career Setbacks: How you respond to a career bump will determine the course of your professional growth.

Nasty Disclosures of Boardroom Behavior: The ethics and standards of mixing consulting and auditing.