Employees in Ireland are less likely to find ethically questionable practices acceptable compared to workers in other countries.

The Ethics at Work: 2024 International Survey of Employees study by the Institute of IBE and the Compliance Institute found that 34% of Irish workers believe eight questionable workplace actions are acceptable compared to 39% globally.

A total of 12,000 employees in 16 countries who were surveyed, including 750 who are based in Ireland.

Eight in 10 Irish employees view nepotism as unacceptable and disapprove of taking disingenuous sick days.

More than nine in ten (93%) condemn making sexual advances towards a colleague, with 84% saying it is completely inappropriate. 6% of men find this acceptable, compared to 3% of women.

A further seven in ten (69%) are against taking company stationery from work for personal use.

"The research findings reflect a deeply ingrained commitment to ethical standards among employees, which is vital for the integrity of Irish workplaces," said Michael Kavanagh, CEO of Compliance Institute.

"What stands out most is not just the strong opposition to more obvious ethical breaches like nepotism and inappropriate advances, but the heightened awareness around everyday actions such as the misuse of company resources.

"These are behaviours that, though seemingly minor, can erode trust and create a culture of dishonesty if left unchecked.”

Nine in ten employees (87%) disapprove of charging personal entertainment to company expenses, and 83% reject claiming company fuel for personal use.

However, men are generally more likely than women to view such actions as acceptable, with 17% of men comfortable claiming company fuel for personal use compared to 13% of women, and 12% of men approving of charging personal entertainment expenses, versus just 7% of women.

Almost half (47%) believe using the office printer for personal reasons is wrong. More women than men are inclined to accept these minor infractions.

Younger workers are generally more likely to find certain behaviours acceptable compared to their older counterparts.

Some 23% of those aged 18-34 view taking dishonest sick days as acceptable, compared to just 5% of those aged 55 and above.

Similarly, one in five (20%) workers aged 18-34 are comfortable favouring family or friends when awarding contracts, compared to less than one in ten (8%) of those aged 55+.

The perception of workplace honesty in Irish workplaces has declined slightly over the past three years from 86% in 2021 to 83% this year, slightly below the global average of 84%.

Notably, India is seen as having the most honest workplaces (91%), while the Netherlands (77%) ranks the lowest.

The research found that men are more likely than women to believe that honesty is frequently practised at work, with 86% of men agreeing compared to 81% of women.

Older workers (55+) are more likely to believe honesty is always practised (39%) compared to their younger counterparts (32%) aged 18 to 34.

Those in managerial roles (38%) are more inclined to believe that honesty is “always” practised compared to those in non-managerial positions (32%).

"The slight decline in perceptions of workplace honesty over the past three years is an important signal for employers to take notice of. While the drop might seem small, it suggests a gradual shift that could undermine trust if not addressed," said Kavanagh.

"Honesty is a foundational element of any ethical workplace, and it’s crucial that both leadership and employees consistently uphold this value to maintain a positive culture.

"It's also notable that men, older workers, and those in managerial roles tend to believe that honesty is frequently practised. This might reflect different experiences or perceptions of honesty based on one’s role.

"For non-managerial staff and younger employees, it’s crucial to promote a culture of openness and transparency so that they feel confident that honesty is valued at all levels."

(Pic: Getty Images)