Over half UK workers ‘too afraid to blow the whistle’, survey finds

05 April 2017

Over half of UK workers are too afraid to report acts of corruption or bribery in businesses in case of repercussions.

This is according to the latest Global Fraud Survey by accountancy firm EY, which asked 100 UK workers about their perceptions of wrongdoing among bosses as part of a wider study of 4,100 employees across 41 countries.

Around a quarter of respondents felt that bribery and corruption are rife in UK business, 42% said they believe company bosses would act unethically to ensure the survival of their enterprise, and 54% said they would not blow the whistle due to concerns over career progression.

A third of respondents said they would fear for their personal safety if they spoke out, and only 29% said they had seen their company take appropriate action when a member of staff had acted unethically, with only a quarter reporting having frequently heard senior managers discuss how ethical standards can be maintained.

“Bribery and corruption is still perceived to be a prevalent issue in the UK, despite increased focus and scrutiny from the government and regulators,” said Jonathan Middup, Partner at EY.

“Many employees are unaware of the correct channels to report wrongdoing but perhaps more worryingly, it’s clear that some also feel under pressure to withhold information,” he was further quoted as saying by Economia.