Ethical dilemmas: what would you do?

New series of real life case studies. By Danielle Cohen, ethics manager, CIMA.
 
What would you do if you felt your professional ethics were compromised? Following the launch of our new Code of Ethics.  CIMA is offering a comprehensive ethics support package to guide members and students who are unsure of their ethical position. This includes the CIMA ethics helpline, the whistleblowing advice line and the legal advice line – for more details, see below.

To demonstrate how ethics and the new code work in practice, Insight is running a series of case studies based on real life calls to our ethics helpline, with details changed to protect the callers’ identities. Readers are encouraged to think about what they would do and email us back with suggestions. The conclusion to this case study will be published in next month’s Insight.

Case study 1: working cash in hand

Put yourself in the shoes of CIMA member CM. CM recently took up the role of accountant at a small food production and processing company based in the UK. As she settled into her role she noticed some practices that did not seem right to her.

Some employees were not on the payroll and were being paid cash in hand, raising the possibility that National Insurance contributions and tax were not being paid. Because the employees were not native English speakers she was concerned that they might not even have the right to work in the UK.

The company was run by two owner/directors, who were fairly set in their ways. CM did not agree with paying people off the payroll, and was concerned that she could be implicated if this ever came to light publicly. However, it was clear that the business had always been run in this way. Other people within the business were aware that it was going on and she had only been at the company a short time so was reluctant to ‘rock the boat’.

What would you do if you were CM? Have you ever been in a similar situation? Email the editor tim.cooper@cimaglobal.com. Your identity will not be revealed without your consent. Find out what happened to CM in next month’s Insight.

Roadshows and helplines

CIMA is running a series of roadshows around the UK, from 31 May to 19 June 2006. The shows will promote the new CIMA Code of Ethics and demonstrate how it can be applied using practical case studies such as the one above. The Ethics Support Package comprises:

CIMA Ethics Helpline
0800 358 7663 or +44 20 8849 2303  ethics@cimaglobal.com
This free, confidential helpline offers guidance to CIMA members and students who are facing an ethical conflict. The helpline can also provide clarification on aspects of the Code of Ethics and how this can be applied. The helpline is staffed by the professional standards department between 10am and 4pm, Monday-Friday.

Whistleblowing Advice Line (UK only)
0800 358 7665; helpline@pcaw.co.uk
A confidential service offering advice on making a public interest disclosure. If you are unsure whether or how to raise a concern, you can contact the independent charity Public Concern at Work at the details above. Its lawyers can give you free, confidential advice on how to raise a concern about serious malpractice at work. Visit Public Concern at Work for more information.

Legal Advice Line (UK members only)
0800 092 1980
Provided by LAW Express, this helpline offers unlimited low cost professional telephone legal advice for all personal, commercial and employment issues. There is no restriction on length of calls, and the service extends to your spouse or partner and any dependent children under 21 years. For further information please see the Member Benefits section of MyCIMA.

April 2006