Building Ethical Capital

Perceptions of Ethical Climate in the Public Sector

Bibliographic Data

ID6364601
AuthorsEric D Raile (0000-0002-4860-2081, Montana State University, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume73
Issue2
Pages253-262
Publication date2012-12-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Administration Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-3352 • E-ISSN: 1540-6210
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1540-6210.2012.02649.x
OpenAlexW2039130361
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited64

This article examines influences on public servant perceptions of ethical climate in the public sector. The array of beneficial outcomes produced by perceptions of a positive ethical climate, the existence of government programs aimed at improving ethical climate, and implications for government accountability and trustworthiness all argue for a better understanding of the sources of these perceptions. Empirical analyses of survey responses from employees of the U.S. federal executive branch show that individuals in leadership positions perceive the ethical climate more positively. Conversely, work tenure tends to worsen perceived ethical climate, although supervisory status attenuates this negative effect. Ethics training, interaction with ethics officials, and perceived knowledge about ethics topics consistently influence perceptions of ethical climate and advice‐seeking behavior in a positive way. A set of results related to advice‐seeking behavior serves to reinforce the important role of ethics officials

Accountability · Ethical Leadership · Government (linguistics · Perception · Political science · Public relations · Work (physics · Ethics in Business and Education · Law · Management and Organizational Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Workplace Violence and Bullying

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub