Fewer people believe "business behaves ethically" IBE Business Ethics Survey finds
A report by the Institute of Business Ethics - 'Attitudes of the British Public to Business Ethics 2019' - highlights a fall in those who regard business as behaving ethically. While the majority of those asked believe business does behave very or fairly ethically, this has fallen from 62% to 57% in the last 12 months.
The same top three issues raised as concerns by the public in 2018 remain the same in 2019; tax avoidance (33%), executive pay (29%) and environmental responsibility (28%) - the latter identified as a top three concern for the second year in a row.
Almost one in five (18%) members of public believe businesses need to address their work-home balance practices with experts maintaining a healthy balance is vital to protect employee wellbeing.
The long-term trends in this report show businesses are actively addressing public concerns and acknowledging their responsibilities to act ethically; since 2003 there has been a 10% increase in those who believe businesses behave ethically and a 7% drop in those who believe they act unethically. This year's data, highlighting a 5% drop, shows that work never ends, especially with a continued focus on issues such as those concerning the environment, mental health and the use of data.
Public relations is a business critical function that should be at the front and centre of delivering this work by communicating change, building trust and improving public perception through an organisations social purpose and a focus on relationships.
Download the report.
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).