Based on a study conducted by the Compliance Institute and the Institute of Business Ethics, employees in Ireland were less inclined than those worldwide to accept dubious working practices.

Fifteen thousand workers in sixteen nations, including 750 in Ireland, participated in the 'Ethics at Work: 2024 International Survey of Employees'.

Eight out of 10 Irish workers disapprove of taking fake sick days and consider nepotism to be undesirable, according to the study. Ninety-three percent of those surveyed said they would never make sexual advances on a coworker.

Most people are opposed to using workplace stationery for personal use. Nearly 90% of those surveyed oppose charging personal entertainment to business expenses, and over 80% are against using company gasoline for personal use.

Michael Kavanagh, CEO of the Compliance Institute, stated, "The research findings reflect a deeply ingrained commitment to ethical standards among employees, which is vital for the integrity of Irish workplaces."

"What stands out most is not just the strong opposition to more obvious ethical breaches like nepotism and inappropriate advances, but the heightened awareness around everyday actions such as the misuse of company resources."

"These are behaviours that, though seemingly minor, can erode trust and create a culture of dishonesty if left unchecked," said Mr. Kavanagh.