The Ethical Barometer

News & Events

The Barometer’s Boneheads for 2011

Most ethics organizations and ethical lists try to name “the most ethical” (person) (company) etc. The Barometer is risk averse. Point to someone or some organization as the most ethical for a year and by the end of the next year they will do something stupid and you will look like an idiot. The Barometer far prefers a look at the mistakes for the sole purpose of introspection — “There but for the grace of God, go I.”

The following list is a head-turner because ethical lapses can happen to anyone. We study those who slip so that we can do the introspection, learn, and, hopefully, prevent ourselves (more…)

You Know a Backbone When You See It

Is it any wonder we have federal budget difficulties? Take a gander at the money management skills at former Senator Jon Corzine’s MF Global firm and you witness activities that give a whole new meaning to the term “shell game.” What has emerged about the frantic transfers of funds during MF Global’s final days before bankruptcy is disturbing on so many levels, but there are two shining exemplars amongst the rubble and now emerging ruffian tactics of the firm taking money from Peter to pay Paul, even as Peter was clueless about the use of his funds. Oh, what backbone was demonstrated amongst the desperation!

As MF Global tried to transfer funds to settle accounts with trading partners, the folks at JPMorgan Chase put out a big, “Whoa, partner!” and questioned the source of the funds being used. The bank with a backbone (more…)

Classic Quotes

“From my personal political standpoint, I wish people got paid less. But my guiding star is not my political belief.”

Alan Johnson, owner of Johnson Associates, a financial compensation specialty firm with clients such as Credit Suisse and the late Lehman Brothers. No, one’s beliefs have no place as a guiding star.

“I took tickets to a concert for me and my daughter, but they had changed hands so many times before reaching me that I felt no obligation could be implied.”

Procurement officer for Maricopa County, AZ; one of 11 county employees to take trips, gifts, and tickets from vendors. Ah, yes, the REO Speedwagon theory on conflicts losing their punch with each pass from one human to another: “Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another . . .”

The punch isn’t removed by passing the conflict through many hands. There are only two ways to manage a conflict: Don’t or Disclose. A thief can’t pass good title no matter how transfers of the stolen goods and passing tickets through many hands does not eliminate the conflict.

“(I am) surprised, disappointed and saddened for the players who are here and had nothing to do with this. They do not deserve this.”

Ohio State athletics director, Gene Smith, on NCAA sanctions of the a post-season ban and scholarship cuts for former coach Jim Tressel’s cover-up of his players’ memorabilia-trades-for-tattoos program in violation of NCAA rules. (more…)

“I did what I was supposed to do.”

Penn State University head football coach, Joe Paterno. Yes, but did you do what you should have done? There it is, that, “I complied with the law” cover. In a situation in which the lives of young people are at issue, surely a man of Mr. Paterno’s influence should have done more. Mr. Paterno has nothing to worry about in a legal sense. But, from an ethical perspective, his failure to follow up on the eye-witness report of child sexual abuse taking place in the showers of “our locker room facility” reflects the same coldness of calling in an accident on your cell phone even as you fail to stop and render help or comfort. Places to go, things to do, games to win. The mothers of these young boys have the right to confront Coach Paterno (more…)

Ethical Dilemmas

Levi’s 501 Jeans, Currency, and Customs

The Barometer was in a long and slow-moving line at the U.S. Post Office. A very pleasant woman in line, who was attempting to return items her guests from Norway had left at her home, struck up a conversation. How the guests from Norway loved to shop, said she. After all, current conversion rates put $1.00 USD at 5.96 krone. For example, one of this delightful woman’s guests had managed, with coupon savings, to score several pairs of Levi 501 jeans for $30 each at JC Penney’s. Back in the homeland, her young guest would have had to pay the equivalent of $110 for such a pair of jeans. Then came the remarkable disclosure, “Of course, they took all the tags off and just packed the jeans in their suitcases as if they were clothes they brought with them to the United States. Customs (more…)

“Why Don’t You Just Use This Receipt?”

The Barometer needs to stay away from gas stations. The portrait of America painted there is worrisome. Once again, the task of filling up a rental car was at hand. Gas pump #8 had a receipt dangling from the previous purchase — a receipt for $68.05. The Barometer’s rental car fill-up was $6.86, but no receipt arrived. The trek into the clerk for a receipt was more of an exchange. The $68.05 receipt turned in along with a request for a new receipt on Pump 8. The puzzled clerk looked at the receipt left by a previous patron, an amount 10 times the Barometer’s fill-up and asked, “Why don’t you just use this receipt?” Well, such skullduggery in submitting expenses is not the stuff of good business relationships. But, and here comes that concept of volume again, (more…)