ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Most people think it's probably unwise to have an affair with one's boss or someone else with whom you work, but is it unethical? Well, yes and no -- depending on whether you are a man or woman, according to the Ethics Resource Center, which today released initial statistics from its sixth biennial National Business Ethics Survey (NBES).

While only 14.9 percent of Americans say it is okay to date one's boss, 83.6 percent found it unacceptable, according to the ERC survey. However, among all male respondents, 20 percent said it is acceptable and only 11 percent of females agreed. There is no mention in the survey about whether the boss or subordinate is married. The ERC survey was conducted in July and August, before recent news stories broke about TV talk show host David Letterman's relationships with some of his staff.

U.S. employees are more likely to say it is okay to date a peer, but overall the workforce was split on the issue. When it comes to co-workers, 47.5 percent say it is all right to have a romantic office relationship while 50.6 percent were against it. Among respondents who thought it is acceptable to date a co-worker, men and women were split almost evenly, 49 percent to 45 percent, respectively.

Some 7.9 percent of respondents said they have observed incidences of sexual harassment in the workplace during the past year. Slightly more than half of them (52 percent) actually reported it to management or another appropriate person.

"As we put together all survey findings, we see a clear pattern that fear of being fired in a tough economy is a big factor in determining whether people report ethical transgressions," said ERC President Patricia J. Harned, Ph.D.

Full results of its survey of 3,010 American workers are to be released within the next three weeks.

About ERC

The Ethics Resource Center (ERC) is a private, nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and the advancement of high ethical standards and practices in public and private institutions. For 87 years ERC has been a resource for institutions committed to a strong ethical culture. ERC's expertise also informs the public dialogue on ethics and ethical behavior. For more information, visit www.ethics.org or call (703) 647 - 2185.

SOURCE Ethics Resource Center

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