A new survey conducted by compliance training company Skillcast has highlighted a clear and concerning disparity in awareness of workplace misconduct between managers and non-managers.
The study, which surveyed 2,000 UK residents currently in employment, aims to gauge knowledge of various forms of misconduct such as fraud, theft, data breaches, and bribery.
The survey presented respondents with scenarios depicting incidents of misconduct alongside non-incidents and asked them to distinguish between the two.
Shockingly, the results reveal a significant gap in awareness between managers and non-managers, with non-managers consistently outperforming their managerial counterparts.
Skillcast is able to quantify this knowledge gap in terms of the average percentage point difference in correct answers given by managers and non-managers.
Across all questions, there was an alarming 19 percentage point difference in correct answers between managers and non-managers. This suggests a concerning lapse in compliance knowledge among managers, who typically hold more hands-off roles within organisations.
When examining specific types of misconduct, such as data breaches, fraud, or theft, the knowledge gap widened to a 21 percentage point difference, indicating a critical need for improved awareness and training among managerial staff.
Notable findings from the survey include:
• Over half (55%) of managers were unaware that certain actions constituted bribery, including sending vouchers to a potential client or making significant donations to associated charities,
• There was a concerning lack of knowledge among managers regarding GDPR, with 54% unaware that theft of a work computer constitutes a data breach.
• Approximately half of managers had misconceptions regarding misconduct, including personal fuel purchases on company cards or submitting false mileage claims.
• Almost half (48%) of the respondents reported witnessing some form of misconduct in the workplace within the last 12 months. Health and safety breaches emerged as the most prevalent form of misconduct, followed by discrimination or harassment and personal data breaches.
• Interestingly, while the findings were consistent across age groups, with health and safety breaches being the most commonly witnessed misconduct, 18 to 24-year-olds reported discrimination or harassment as the most frequent form of misconduct.
Skillcast's CEO, Vivek Dodd, said: "These results underscore the urgent need for organisations to prioritise comprehensive training and awareness programs, particularly among managerial staff. While managers may be more likely to witness misconduct, our study reveals a concerning gap in their ability to identify and address such incidents effectively.
“Junior staff learn from managerial staff in the workplace, and whilst our study found that non-managers are more aware of misconduct, managers reinforcing misinformation may lead to the wider workplace falling behind on compliance. Managers are ultimately accountable for any misconduct in the workplace and perhaps should refresh themselves on staying compliant.
"The study also highlights the need for UK businesses to hire compliance managers. They're the watchdogs of ethical conduct, ensuring the organisation operates with integrity and avoids legal and reputational risks, something that's clearly needed to ensure compliance from the top-down."
