Organizational Ethics and Middle Management: A Case Study in the Retail Industry

Purpose: To analyze the perceptions of individual ethics, middle management ethics, and organizational ethics of employees at a retail supermarket, to understand how these perceptions vary by demographic and job characteristics.Methodology: Data were obtained from a survey designed and validated for this study. Contingency tables were used to cross-reference demographic and job-related variables with perceptions of individual ethics, middle management ethics, and organizational ethics among employees at a retail supermarket. Statistical significance was assessed using Fisher’s exact test.Results: Employees’ ethical perceptions are concentrated in the low and lower-middle categories, with no representation in the upper-middle or high categories. Gender, education, seniority, and income significantly influence perceptions, while younger, less educated, and lower salaries employees report more negative evaluations.Implications: The findings highlight the need for interventions to address ethical deficiencies, including ethical training, leadership development, and support for marginalized groups in this type of organization.Originality: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the ethical perceptions of workers in the retail industry, providing empirical evidence for the design of specific interventions to strengthen organizational ethical culture.