With all of the adjustments companies and their workforces have had to make during the pandemic, more employees feel pressured to cut corners and bend the rules.

That’s according to the 2021 Global Business Ethics Survey Report from the Ethics & Compliance Initiative, which found that employee pressure to compromise ethical standards has reached the highest level in two decades.

“This is likely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused significant organizational changes,” the report states. Creating performance metrics for management tied to culture and implementing a strong code of conduct and a high-quality ethics and compliance program are all things that boards can do to ensure the culture of their organizations is positive. “The board’s role in overseeing the well-being of the culture is critical,” says Patricia Harned, CEO of the Ethics & Compliance Initiative.

Agenda – Emerging Culture Woes Point to ‘Critical’ Board Oversight