Articles & Dilemmas

 

The ethics of redundancy in times of crises... What would you do?

11 Aug 20
by Anonymous
A small boutique wealth management company has been hammered by a slowing economy in the current climate. Revenue is down, cash flow is dwindling and lines of credit are nearly exhausted. The company is bleeding money, despite some government support. The founder and CEO is trying to ride out the storm, but the situation has deteriorated enough that they must do something to stop the financial haemorrhaging. The option that would reap the greatest savings for the struggling company is to lay of...

The ethics of managing expectations... what would you do?

04 Aug 20
by Anonymous
You’re a first-year analyst at an investment bank and happy to be working long hours to produce high quality work after having landed your dream job upon graduating from uni. You have the opportunity to work with one of the organisation’s most reputable senior bankers on a deal, and you're pleased when they compliment you on the presentation of your reports as well as your attention to detail.

The ethics of Green Bonds... What would you do?

29 Jul 20
by Anonymous
In recent years, Social and Environmental sustainability has been at the forefront of conversation for governments and multinationals, particularly in Australia where extreme weather conditions, such as the  bushfires and floods experienced earlier this year, have brought about deeper conversation on what businesses could be doing better.

The ethics of team morale... what would you do?

24 Jul 20
by John Neil
A manager oversees a team of front facing customer service staff. She has been working hard to improve the level of respect shown by staff to customers. One team member continues to be consistently rude to customers, which he justifies on the basis that he sees more customers in a day than any other team member. Frustrated by the impact this is having on the morale of her team and their culture, and the ineffectiveness of her attempts to change the behaviour of this team member through on the ...

Facing up to cultural diversity through communication

14 Jul 20
by Jodi O'Callaghan, Executive Officer, The Banking and Finance Oath
The workplaces we return to will not be the ones we left. There will be strict policies on desk use, the maximum number of people in meeting rooms and common areas, and limited outings for coffee and lunch breaks. But I’m optimistic there are some things that will be strengthened within organisations – and this includes the focus on cultural diversity when it comes to organisational communication. There are some learnings too from the communications we've seen between the government and multi-cultural communities during the current health crisis.

The ethics of decision making under time pressures… what would you do?

14 Jul 20
by Anonymous
Although efficiency is a value in so many organisations and an important part of delivery to customers, often we don’t see potential risks or mistakes until something goes wrong.

The ethics of speaking up... what would you do?

08 Jul 20
by Jodi O'Callaghan
You've been part of a team working on a large and complex project. You have heard that a fairly major error has shown up as part of the financials for the project.

If you are going to fail, fail good

02 Jul 20
by Cris Parker, Director, The Banking + Finance Oath, Head of The Ethics Alliance
The world is facing what could be the biggest recession since the Great Depression. That tiny Covid-19 virus kicked off a trail of personal and economic disaster, expected to snowball into an avalanche of business bankruptcy.

The ethics of business relationships… what would you do?

02 Jul 20
by Anonymous
You’ve just started a new role at a large financial institution with a solid portfolio of business clients. You’ve been told that as bankers to large professional service firms, your organisation gives discounts to the partners of those firms for their personal lending facilities in recognition of the wider group relationship.

Language warning-Why women tune out

24 Jun 20
by Cris Parker, Director, The BFO + Head of The Ethics Alliance
There are some early claims that Generation Z women are smarter with money than their mothers and grandmothers have been. They will need to be.

The ethics of financial literacy… what would you do?

24 Jun 20
by By David Goldfeld, UBank + BFO Young Ambassador
An initial meeting to assess the needs and values of a potential new customer turns in to a self-reflection exercise that sees you questioning your own values and where your duty lies.

The ethics of data collection... what would you do?

17 Jun 20
by Anonymous
When it comes to data collection, businesses emphasise speed, efficiency and simplicity. Automation of processes can enable the transformation of outdated, manual processes and make it easier and quicker to complete work every day. It can remove duplication of work and increase productivity to help us better do our jobs. It can help us to stay on track and notify us of something we may have forgotten. It can help us to grow and accelerate as a business.  There are, however, concerns over wh...

The ethics of being a confidant... what would you do?

10 Jun 20
by The Banking + Finance Oath
You are a Human Resources Business Partner to an IT team of 45 people in a large financial institution. The team is leading a high profile systems transformation that will take the business through a significant change in the way it deals with customers.

The ethics of managing small business customers in times of crisis... what would you do?

03 Jun 20
by The Banking + Finance Oath
At a time when so many small to medium businesses are being pushed to the limit, is it possible to balance compassion with realism?

Life's 2-column spreadsheet where no truths can hide

19 May 20
by Suzanne Salter, Founder and Principal Coach, Leadership Nouveau
As the world economy will soon have to start rebuilding from ground zero, it’s a really good time to reflect and ask… what do we want this new edifice of life to look like? I hope that by sharing my story, I might help shape your answer to this very question.

Moving ahead means letting go

19 May 20
by Cris Parker, Director, The BFO and Head of The Ethics Alliance
Emerging from the turbulence of COVID-19, we have the opportunity to escape the hold of our past and use moral imagination to explore a better future.

What's really changed in financial services? And can it be sustained?

19 May 20
by Bob McCarthy, Managing Director, Integrity Solutions
Just as the post-Hayne dust was settling, and before the financial services industry had time to catch its collective breath, a serious new challenge has emerged shining an even more dramatic spotlight on its role in a distrusting community – the wildfire spread of, and the global economic/societal response to, the Coronavirus.

As featured in Starling Trust's 2020 Compendium: Putting Mouths Where the Money Is

11 May 20
by Cris Parker, Director, The Banking + Finance Oath
Since the Covid-19 crisis hit, Australia’s financial institutions have had to divert a lot of resources and focus their efforts on addressing the challenges they face. They’ve also had to adapt quickly to accommodate their customer’s changing financial needs. But has their response to the pandemic been enough to rouse respect from the community they serve and rekindle a trust that has been lost?

This is no time to let things slide

27 Apr 20
by Cris Parker, The Banking and Finance Oath
Compliance can’t be in every situation all of the time. Every decision can’t be monitored, nor should we want it to be. The purpose of The Banking and Finance Oath (The BFO) is to encourage self-reflection and values-driven decision making. There will still be situations where behaviour is not in line with the values of an organisation and it’s important to question when you see this. You just have to look at #ToiletPaperGate to see behaviour can be driven by self-interest, when the circumstances permit, whether we realise it or not. The broader example of hoarding is an example of fear driving unthinking practice. The BFO encourages individuals to ‘call out wrongdoing and support others who do the same’. However, situations will still arise, where organisations will rely on a whistle-blower speaking up. Bad behaviour still happens during a crisis. We spoke to a whistle-blower from the financial services industry who explains why speaking up is as important as ever in these challenging times.

Moral fatigue: Making decisions when there is no right answer

21 Apr 20
by Cris Parker, Director, The BFO and Head of The Ethics Alliance
A senior executive alarms his CEO when he starts making out-of-character decisions that reflect his personal fears. Teams are frozen into indecision as the ground continually shifts beneath them. Your days are punctuated with emotional meltdowns from people you have always relied upon in a crisis. As exhausting as this sounds, it is currently all too familiar. These are some of the signs that the prolonged impact of Covid-19 is causing moral fatigue in the people around you.

Engaging our leadership, values and humanity

25 Mar 20
by Jodi O'Callaghan, Executive Officer
As people around the world grapple with this extremely challenging time, never has it been more important for individuals to pull together as citizens to make the greatest impact in the face of this unfolding COVID-19 crisis.     Social distancing by working from home means a disparate workforce and a completely new way of working for many of us. Technology is enabling the ‘show to go on’ thro...

The ethics of life insurance at times of crisis

23 Mar 20
by Jodi O'Callaghan
Life insurance offers financial security to loved ones left behind following the loss of a family member. It can be a difficult subject to broach at the best of times, but in times of crisis it can be even harder, albeit reassuring to know you have it. But what if you don’t? Working in customer service for a large life insurance organisation you receive a call from a prospective client wanting to purchase life insurance. They are not considered high risk in the cur...

Avoiding ethical blindness

17 Mar 20
by Simon Longstaff, Executive Director, The Ethics Centre
The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) defines conduct risk as “the risk of inappropriate, unethical or unlawful behaviour on the part of an organisation’s management or employees”.  At its heart, the definition recognises conduct risk is a product of ethical blindness: a failure to see important aspects of the ethical landscape of banking. "You would hope the interests of consumers, the integrity of financial markets and the expectations...
Image of a sign saying Love and Money

The ethics of romance scams... what would you do?

04 Mar 20
by Anonymous
A system red flag has popped up to alert you of a transaction by a customer that looks out of the ordinary of her usual transactions, particularly given the country the money will be received. What you uncover leaves you questioning what the right thing to do is in this situation.
Photograph of a person using a laptop to lodge an expense claim on a wooden desk, by Fabian Irsara on Unsplash

The ethics of expense claims... what would you do?

12 Feb 20
You are the line manager for a team of people in your company in the finance sector. One of your key staff members is excellent at her job and is known for her ability to generate a high amount of income for the company - none of your other staff members come close to her in terms of this...

The ethics of confidentiality... what would you do?

04 Dec 19
by Jodi O'Callaghan
It’s the festive season and you’re attending the usual amount of social events at this time of year – catching up with colleagues and industry peers at each one.

The ethics of client service.... what would you do?

20 Nov 19
by Anonymous
You work in wealth management, advising on, monitoring and updating the investments and superannuation of clients, some of whom carry joint investments and receive services together as a couple - like Leo and Isabelle*. To date, Leo and Isabelle have always come to the office seeking advice and making decisions together. But this week you received a call... just from Leo.

The ethics of loyalty... what would you do?

14 Nov 19
by Simon Watson
You are a fixed income portfolio manager who works as part of a close, high performing team that invests the assets of large institutional clients.

Why trust-building strategies should get the benefit of the doubt

By Cris Parker
Addressing the errors of the past can’t depend solely on the law. In today’s business environment, initiatives that encourage self-reflection and accountability deserve a healthy dose of scepticism but cynicism will only serve to stifle the potential.

Bringing people and planet to the fore at U Ethical

By James Cook, CIO
U Ethical has undergone an exhaustive process over the last twelve months, seeking to bring to the fore what is important to our people and our clients. This has been built around the principal of delivering competitive investment returns while doing the right thing by communities and the planet.
Total 200 articles in this section.
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The Oath

  • Trust is the foundation of my profession.
  • I will serve all interests in good faith.
  • I will compete with honour.
  • I will pursue my ends with ethical restraint.
  • I will help create a sustainable future.
  • I will help create a more just society.
  • I will speak out against wrongdoing and support others who do the same.
  • I will accept responsibility for my actions.

In these and all other matters;
My word is my bond.