attitudes of the british public to business ethics 2016 · age, gender, region, class, ethnicity,...

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Current business behaviour

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However, there was also a 12% increase in the number of respondents who did not express an opinion compared to 2015 (a

change in methodology in 2016 may account for some of this shift in perception). 1

Issues of most concern

Research Methodology The research is conducted on behalf of the IBE by Ipsos MORI. This year the study moved from face-to-face interviewing to online surveying. In 2016, a total of 2000 respondents completed an online survey between 21st September and 27th September 2016 and data has been weighted to reflect the adult population (18-65) in the UK in terms of age, gender, region, class, ethnicity, housing tenure and occupational status [2015 base = 1130 GB Adults 16+ asked face-to-face until 2015].

Attitudes of the British Public to Business Ethics 2016

For each of the last 13 years, the Institute of Business Ethics has asked the British public about its view on how ethical British Business is. This infographic shows

the attitudes of the British public to business ethics in 2016.

43%

26%

21%

16%

28%

38%

Corporate tax avoidance

Executive pay

Exploitative labour

Work-home balance for employees

Protection of customer data

/data privacy

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TAX

For the first time in four years, less than half of the British public (48%) believe that British business is behaving ethically.

Unethically

Ethically

48%1 This survey moved from face-to-face

interviewing to online surveying in 2016. It is acknowledged that studies suggest online surveys elicit more ‘don’t know’ responses compared to face-to-face surveys, as respondents are considered to be more comfortable in saying they are unsure about something when not responding face-to-face.

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24 Greencoat Place London SW1P 1BE • t +44 (0) 20 7798 6040 • e [email protected] • www.ibe.org.uk • Charity No. 1084014


Current business behaviour

Q

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

There is a lot of discussion these days about how ethically business is behaving - that is, how far its behaviour and decisions follow good principles. How ethically do you think British business generally behaves?

n Ethically nUnethically nUnsure (no opinion) change in methodology

47%

41%

11%

54%

33%

13%

58%

32%

54%

36%

10%10%

51%

43%

6%

52%

36%

12%

59%

29%

12%

59%

39%

2%

58%

40%

2%

59%

38% 38%

58%

33%

9%

48% 48%

37%

15% 14%

51%

36%

12%

4%

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How ethically do you think British business generally behaves?

In 2016, the perception of the general public is that British business behaviour is not as ethical as it has been in recent years. For the first time since 2012, those that view British business as behaving ethically fell below 50%.

This shift in perception could be driven by a significantly higher proportion of respondents who did not venture an opinion one way or another. On the other hand, those that consider British business to be behaving unethically varied little over the same period.

The 2016 results mirror almost exactly the results of 2012.


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48%38%

Graduates are the most likely to express an opinion. 2

Those with a university degree are the most likely subgroup to think British business is behaving unethically (45%).

Graduates

46%45%

Ethically

Unethically

Ethically

Unethically

General populationThis year there was no significant difference in responses across age, gender and occupational status.

Differences by Subgroup: age, gender, occupational status and education

2 Graduate refers to respondents with at least a Bachelor Degree or equivalent (=NVQ4) level of education or higher

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In your view of company behaviour, which two or three issues most need addressing?

Issues of most concern

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The top 3 issues of concern remain unchanged for a third consecutive year. Work-home balance for employees enters the top 5. Protection of customer data/data privacy (introduced in 2014) became a top 5 issue of concern for the first time.

Notable changes in attitudes since 2012

2012 2015 201620142013

34%30%

34%

27%

37%

35%

34%

16%

11%

14%15%15%

15%

15%

21%

20%19%19%

17%

25%

28%

43%

10%

20%

26%

21%

16%

12%11%11%

10% 8%

8% 8%8%

n Corporate tax avoidance

n Executive pay

n Exploitative labour 3

n Work-home balance for employees

n Protection of customer data/data privacy 4

n Bribery and corruption

n Human rights

n Advertising and marketing practices

11%11%

3%

In your view of company behaviour, which two or three of these issues most need addressing? Q

3 ‘Exploitative labour’ changed in 2014 from ‘sweatshop labour’

4 Introduced to the survey in 2014 as ‘security of information’, changed to ‘data privacy/protection’ in 2015


Corporate tax avoidance remains the number one concern of the British public and has seen the biggest increase in prominence between 2015-2016. On average, it has been trending upwards since being introduced to the survey in 2012.

The top three issues: corporate tax, executive pay and exploitative labour were all topics discussed in the media this year.

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Rising issues Exploitative labour 5 continues to rise. This is unsurprising given its attention in the media in 2016.

Protection of customer data/data privacy has seen a significant increase in prominence between 2015-2016.

Work-home balance has risen to a top 5 position for the first time since being introduced 11 years ago.

Falling issues Advertising and marketing practices have seen the biggest fall between 2015-2016, now being the least cited concern of the British public.

Bribery and corruption continues on a downward trend since 2012.

Human rights has returned to a level similar to that of when it was first introduced in 2011 after stagnating between 2013-2015.

Issues of most concern continued

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Spotlight on Gender

Women are more concerned about environmental responsibility, human rights and discrimination compared to men.

Men are more concerned about executive pay, treatment of suppliers and exploitative labour than women.

Women have been consistently more concerned about workplace harassment and bullying than men until 2016, when the gap has all but closed.

Men have been consistently more concerned than women about executive pay and corporate tax avoidance over the history of the survey.

Notable changes

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

n Women

n Men

Concern about workplace harassment/bullying by gender

28%

14%12% 12%

14% 15% 15%

11%14%

9%

32%

21% 21%24%

21%18% 18%19%

17%15%

5 ‘Exploitative labour’ changed in 2014 from ‘sweatshop labour’

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Issues of most concern continued

Respondent Profile

TOTAL Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ ABC1 C2DE Working Graduate

2000 994 1006 679 902 419 1103 897 1475 903

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Spotlight on Age

Spotlight on Occupational Status

18-34 year old respondents are more concerned about discrimination and human rights compared to 35-54s and 55+ respondents.

Both ABC1 and C2DE respondents have consistently followed the overall trend in concern for work-home balance. ABC1 respondents have steadily reported above average concern, whilst C2DE respondents have reported below average concern.

Distinguishing by sub-group from 2007, respondents between the ages of 18–34 have been consistently more likely to report discrimination compared to older respondents. Concern about discrimination has plateaued amongst respondents over the age of 55 since 2014.

Compared to the total, respondents between the ages of 18-34 have been less concerned about corporate tax avoidance until 2016 when the figures converged.

7 ABC1 refers to respondents in professional, managerial and administrative positions. C2DE refers to respondents in skilled and unskilled manual work.

Notable changes

ABC1 respondents are more concerned about corporate tax avoidance and work-home balance for employees compared to C2DE respondents. 7

Notable changes

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

n18-34 6 n35-54 n55+

Concern about discrimination by age group

nABC1 nC2DE nTotal

Concern about work-home balance by occupational status

6 From 2016, the respondents’ age group changed to 18-34 (previously 16-34).

34%

24%21% 21%

16% 16%21%

12%

17%22%25%

22%18% 18% 15%

20%

14%10% 9% 9%

36%30%

27% 25%28%

24%29%

28% 26%

19%

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

17%16%14%

8%11% 12%

6% 7% 7%10%

18%

13%15% 17%

10%8% 8%

15%

21%16%

19%21%

13%9% 9%

19%24%

24 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1BE • t +44 (0) 20 7798 6040 • e [email protected] • www.ibe.org.uk • Charity No. 1084014

Business Ethics in Sport

Issue 53 | September 2016

The IBE was established in 1986 to encourage high standards of business behaviour based on ethical values. Our vision is to lead the dissemination of knowledge and good practice in business ethics. We raise public awareness of the importance of doing business ethically, and collaborate with other UK and international organisations with interests and expertise in business ethics. We help organisations to strengthen their ethics culture through effective and relevant ethics programmes. The IBE is a registered charity, supported by subscriptions from businesses and other organisations, as well as individuals. Charity no. 1084014

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attitudes of the british public to business ethics 2016 · age, gender, region, class, ethnicity,...

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