Ethics: An Inherent Element of an Effective HR Program

Over my 34 year HR career, I have witnessed a deterioration of ethics in the general public's behavior and in business practices. WorldCom, Enron, Tyco, Adelphia, Global Crossing, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, etc., are recent reminders of how far some executive management teams and their "friendly" Boards are willing to go to achieve personal and business objectives that are not in the long-term interest of the organization. Consequently, it should come as no surprise that many HR professionals have fallen victim to this trend.