Voters Want Candidates to Crack Down on Corporate Greed
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. CREDIT: Handcuffed businessman image via Shutterstock |
Voters will be supporting the candidate they feel can curb corporate corruption when they head to the polls in November, new research shows.
The study by the law firm Labaton Sucharow revealed that more than 60 percent of voters said a candidate's commitment to rooting out corporate wrongdoing will be a significant factor in their voting decision.
In general, 77 percent of those surveyed believe politicians favor corporate interests over their constituents' interests, while more than 80 percent believe the government isn't doing enough to stop corporate misconduct.
Additionally, the research found that more than 60 percent of Americans believe that corporate misconduct was a significant factor in bringing about the current economic downturn.
"In these difficult economic times, Americans are mad as hell about corporate wrongdoing and are going to do something about it in the November elections and beyond," said Jordan Thomas, a partner and chairman of the Whistleblower Representation Practice at Labaton Sucharow. "At the federal, state and local level, politicians who fail to demonstrate a credible commitment to stopping corporate corruption are likely to be looking for new jobs."
The study that found employees who are willing to point out misconduct are viewed very highly by their peers. More than 80 percent have a positive perception of individuals who report illegal or unethical conduct, while 83 percent would blow the whistle on corporate wrongdoing as long as they were given protection and incentives, such as those offered by the SEC Whistleblower Program.
Thomas Dubbs, a senior partner at Labaton Sucharow, said it's encouraging to see so many employees willing to take a stand against corporate corruption.
"Real change and lasting corporate reform requires grassroots action," Dubbs said. "Corporations that don't take ethics seriously will be making a costly mistake."
More than 50 percent of those polled reported having personally observed or received first-hand knowledge of a wrongdoing in the workplace.
The study was based on surveys of more than men and women over age 18.
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