Financial advisors’ perceptions of ethical and effective attitudes and behaviour in their profession

Unethical behaviour is a concern in the workplace, because of the possible consequences for all stakeholders. This issue is particularly salient in the financial services sector, a highly regulated environment, where breaches of the regulations can result in large fines and reputational damage to the organisation concerned. Unethical behaviour can also have severe effects on customers, such as when inappropriate advice leads to customers losing all or a large part of their savings. Empirical studies have tended to focus mostly on organisational antecedents of unethical intentions and behaviour, with individual factors not being given that much attention. Research on the antecedents of unethical intentions and behaviour has produced inconsistent findings, suggesting that context might play a role. Consequently, my research has attempted to study the individual antecedents of unethical intentions and behaviour in the financial services industry, a specific context where it is salient. Malta presents a particularly pertinent context for this study, as its profile on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions scale has been empirically linked to a higher potential for engaging in unethical behaviour. [Continues.]