1. EthicsStat
With data and insight
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…Now You Know
Current Global Recession Driving
Organizational Ethics Risk
Ethics Resource Center
July 7, 2009

2. The Recession Continues to Create Anxiety and Doubt in
Employees and the Workforce in General
Consumer Confidence Is Down*
The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index™, which had improved considerably in
May, retreated in June. The Index now stands at 49.3 (1985=100), down from 54.8 in May.
Levels of Anxiety and Stress Are Up**
In the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll, 57 percent of those surveyed said the nation's
economic condition is a cause of stress in their lives. More than a quarter said they had
"serious" anxiety. The percentage of stressed-out people was higher among those who said
their finances had suffered "a great deal" from the recession. Among this group, 83 percent
said they were stressed, with 55 percent reporting serious anxiety.
Little Sign of Optimism***
And while a New York Times/CBS News poll found fewer people saying the economy had
worsened, most did not think it was improving. People overwhelmingly thought the recession
would last another year or more, and 70 percent were concerned that a household member
would be jobless.
Sources
* http://www.conference-board.org/economics/ConsumerConfidence.cfm
** http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/28/AR2009022800150.html
*** http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9901E2DC103AF93AA35757C0A96F9C8B63

3. Global Recession Has Resulted in Major Organizational
Changes such as Layoffs and Restructuring
This turmoil has generated serious implications for the
ethics and compliance function
Based on a survey of more than 125,000 employees in 75 countries
over the past five quarters, the Corporate Executive Board found:
A 20% increase in A 5% decline in frontline A 10% increase in the
observations of employee perceptions of number of disengaged
misconduct from the first to senior management's employees, from one in ten
the second half of 2008 commitment to integrity to one in five, causing
declines in companywide
productivity of up to 5%
*Source: Compliance and Ethics Leadership Council Research -
http://www.businessweek.com/managing/content/jun2009/ca20090612_156983.htm

5. The Compliance and Ethics Leadership Council (CELC)
CELC, a division of the Corporate Executive Board, serves more than 400
of the world’s preeminent companies – through their Chief Compliance
and Ethics Officers – with:
 Leading-edge research;
 Quantitative analysis;
 Benchmarking support; and
 Implementation tools on their most important challenges.
• Managing compliance and ethics risks
• Measuring program effectiveness and ethical culture
• Developing line managers as ethical leaders
• Adapting to a new regulatory (and economic) landscape
The Corporate Executive Board (CEB) drives faster, more effective decision-making among the
world’s leading executives and business professionals. As the premier, network-based knowledge
resource, it provides them with the authoritative and timely guidance needed to excel in their roles,
take decisive action and improve company performance. Powered by an executive network that
spans over 50 countries and represents more than 80% of the world’s Fortune 500 companies, the
Corporate Executive Board offers the unique research insights along with an integrated suite of
exclusive tools and resources that enable the world’s most successful organizations to deliver
superior business outcomes. For more information, visit www.exbd.com.