Gregory W. Smith: Looks Like His Ethics Training Didn’t “Take”

12 09 2008

Gregory W. Smith: Looks Like His Ethics Training Didn’t “Take”

Posted by: in Your Business

Gregory W. Smith is getting his proverbial “15 Minutes of Fame” for all the wrong reasons. Baby Boomer Smith (56) is/was an official of the Department of the Interior, the former head of the “royalty-in-kind” office in Denver, Colorado. Smith, who resigned/retired last year (depends on which news story you read), is accused of taking bribes, using cocaine, and engaging in “inappropriate” relationships with subordinates.

In the investigative report from the Office of the Inspector General of the US, the inspector, General Gerald Devaney stated, “Sexual relationships with prohibited sources can’t, by definition, be arms-length.” Now, there’s a great quote! The report also revealed that Smith had received annual ethics training every year from 2002-2006. Oops! Guess someone should have checked his grades on the training exam.

It should be made clear that Smith wasn’t the only one accused- Interior Department investigators claim that a third of the 55 employees in the Royalty-in-Kind office were involved in the scandal. One news source said the office had a “culture of substance abuse and promiscuity.” It’s shocking, yes, but is it surprising? Is this kind of stuff a violation of public trust? Or is it a failing of our culture that condones, rather than condemns, these behaviors.

I have taught business ethics, and it’s a difficult subject to convey to students. Many of them don’t see what companies have done wrong. Some state, “Well, everyone does it.” If this sounds like another rant, maybe it is. Sure, people have been doing this stuff for a long time. Maybe it just shows that, just as you can’t legislate morality, you also can’t “train” people into ethical behavior. They just don’t see that they’re doing anything wrong. It’s astounding how we have the ability to rationalize our behaviors to justify our actions.

What do you think?