A survey conducted by Zogby International (2005) showed that 96% of young adults aged 18 to 24 believe that honesty and trust are important in the workplace. Yet, 31% add a caveat, saying that ethics are important as long as they do not
compromise personal goals. Obviously, this segment of the workforce has conflicting feelings regarding being ethical versus getting ahead. Other studies undertaken by such organizations as the Ethics Resource Center (2005) support this finding. Their information indicates that 43% of employees in the 18- to 24-year age group will not report misconduct; employees in that age group, as well as nonmanagers in any age group, are the least likely to report misconduct. Business leaders concerned with ethics and integrity should keep this potential barrier in mind when developing communications and training programs around ethics.