An article in the February 2008 issue of HR Magazine presents some interesting and somewhat troubling statistics that relate to the mindset of our future business leaders. A Junior Achievement / Deloitte & Touche USA LLP survey conducted among 726 U.S. teens concluded that for more than one third of them succeeding at all costs was the primary career objective.

• 38% of teens ages 13-18 said in the Sept 2007 online survey that lying, cheating, plagiarizing or behaving violently sometimes is necessary.

  Other findings released were:

• 71% feel prepared to make ethical decisions when they start working. (I don’t know if this is good news or bad news).

• 24% think cheating on a test is acceptable; 54% of those teens say their personal desire to succeed is their rationale.

• 23% think violence toward someone is acceptable in order to settle an argument or take revenge.

• 27% don’t think it’s fair for an employer to suspend or fire a worker for behaving unethically outside of work.

• 57% don’t think it’s fair for employers to make hiring or firing decisions based on what employees or job candidates have posted on the Internet.

Source: HR Magazine, Feb 2008, Kathy Gurchiek, Ethics, Schmethics, U.S. Teens Say, pg 26