HIGH ETHICAL STANDARDS ESSENTIAL WHEN CHOOSING A FUTURE EMPLOYER<br>

An Ernst & Young survey reveals that people looking for a new role see their future employer''s ethical standards as crucial.

90% of the respondents consider high ethical standards to be imperative or important, when they are looking for a new employer.

The survey is based on Ernst & Young''s online careers poll, www.ey.com/uk/careers, and over 500 visitors have registered their unique votes since 1 June 2002.

It shows that 49% see high ethical standards as imperative when they are choosing employer. To 40% of the respondents, high ethical values would have a significant bearing on their decision, whilst only 11% consider it as a moderately important or unimportant factor.


Matt Anderson, Experienced Hire Manager at Ernst & Young said: Although we did not define exactly what we meant by high ethical standards, this has not stopped respondents registering strong feelings on the subject.

What we may be seeing is people becoming more wary about the standards and credentials of potential employers. Like any investor, job seekers have become more risk-averse when it comes to investing their personal capital. This is bound to apply more to the talented and ambitious.

Matt Anderson continues: Though only 11% rated the issue as only of moderate importance or unimportant, such attitudes could actually imply unsuitability for many roles and organisations, and certainly they would be counter-indicators for recruiters at Ernst & Young. Whilst respondents were obviously expressing views in general, we''re pleased that the vast majority of people visiting our careers website consider this to be an important or critical issue.