Deloitte & Touche announced in March that it has committed $1 million to Junior Achievement -- a national program that develops lessons that teach students K-12 about the importance of free enterprise, business and economics -- to develop the "Excellence Through Ethics" program. The curriculum teaches students that honesty and integrity are important values to have in their future business endeavors.

 

"Members of the business community have an obligation to help restore credibility and trust," said Roger Nanney, Deloitte & Touche Regional Managing Partner. "To have a lasting effect, that process should begin with education at the elementary level. It is incumbent upon us, the business leaders of today, to embrace the challenge of teaching tomorrow's leaders about core business values."

 

Last year, in the midst of ongoing, high profile corporate scandals, students across the country spoke their minds on business ethics. Ninety percent stated they would not consider working for a company accused of practicing unethical behavior. These students went on to express their unwillingness to purchase from an unethical company. This outcome from approximately 1,450 teenagers shows that they pay close attention to the business climate and it influences their decisions.