At Coca-Cola, Most Ethics Complaints Arrive Via the Internet, Ethikos Reports

MAMARONECK, N.Y., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Internet continues to change
the world in ways that were completely unforeseen a generation ago -- from the
way people communicate to how they receive their news to where they purchase
their books, clothes, and music.

It is even changing the way employees report business misconduct.

At the Coca-Cola Company (Atlanta), more 'concerns' about business conduct and
ethics are now reported through the firm's Internet portal than arrive via its
ethics hotline (telephone).

Indeed, about three-fourths (75 percent) of the company's EthicsLine questions
and reports now arrive from its Internet portal as opposed to the telephone
line (25 percent), according to Sharon J. Zealey, the company's Chief Ethics &
Compliance Officer, interviewed in the current issue of Ethikos (see story at
http://ethikosjournal.com/html/cocacola.html.)

This is particularly surprising because less than half of Coca-Cola employees
use a computer at their work site, notes Zealey. A lot of them use the
telephone, but many are obviously connecting with the Internet portal via
their home computers or from other areas, like Internet cafes.

EthicsLine use has been growing rapidly. In 2008, contacts increased 50
percent compared with 2007, says Zealey. "Education and training has had an
impact," although at least one business unit manager expressed concern about
the increase in complaints from his unit. Zealey answered him that he was
"burdened with success" and not to worry.

The article, "At Coca-Cola, Most EthicsLine Reports Arrive Via The Internet,"
is the lead story in the September/October issue of Ethikos.

Another article in the same issue reports how retailer Best Buy publishes its
employees' ethics and compliance infractions online, something one ethics
practitioner calls "a remarkable exercise in transparency."

"We're trying to take transparency to another level," Chief Ethics Officer
Kathleen Edmond tells Ethikos, while admitting there was some angst attached
to the project. "Why do you want to air your dirty laundry?" she was asked by
some.

Ethikos (www.EthikosJournal.com) is a bi-monthly publication that examines
ethical and compliance issues in business. In its 23rd year, it takes a unique
case-study approach to corporate ethics. Recent issues have included profiles
of Cisco, McDonald's, Southern California Edison, U.S. Foodservice, Nexen, and
Novartis Corporation, among others. Go to
http://ethikosjournal.com/html/selectedarticles.htm to see selected recent
articles.

SOURCE Ethikos

Andrew Singer, +1-914-381-7475, andrew@ethikosjournal.com