Business ethics and golf | Better Business Bureau

“Where do you fall on golf’s honesty meter?” In a March 2012 survey of 2,015 golfers, Golf Digest found that the majority says it does not break the rules; and of those who occasionally bend, more than 89 percent believe that others do the same.

June 9, 2012 3:11 pm

“Where do you fall on golf’s honesty meter?” In a March 2012 survey of 2,015 golfers, Golf Digest found that the majority says it does not break the rules; and of those who occasionally bend, more than 89 percent believe that others do the same.

According to the Ethics Resource Center, the same mentality is true in business. Like golf, those who break the rules—and those who play by the rules—do so out of conformity. In the 2011 National Business Ethics Survey:

  • 13 percent reported feeling pressure to compromise standards—higher than previous years.
  • Of the employees who observed misconduct, 65 percent—an all time high—reported issues.
  • “Keeping the job” is the top motivator for acting unethically or ethically.

“When it comes to golf and business, conformity seems to be the common ground,” says Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. “A strong internal ethics code is the best course of action for companies and individuals.”

BBB’s Integrity Golf Classic drives awareness about good business ethics and healthy marketplace competition. On July 9, 2012, hit the links with BBB and local business leaders at the exclusive Tacoma Country and Golf Club. For registration details, visit wwa.bbb.org/golf or contact events@thebbb.org.