Has Sarbox really changed attitudes?

So how to evaluate the effect of Sarbanes Oxley? We all know that big-company restatements have declined. We know that more companies, in year three, are getting more comfortable with the processes. We know that audit committees are working harder. But has it changed any attitudes? According to a recent Ethics Resource Center's 2007 survey, 56 percent of employees surveyed had observed violations of ethics standards, policies or the law; 42 percent of those who witness misconduct did not report it. Is this a reflection of the whistleblower problems of Sarbox? Maybe. A lot of people just do not want the hassle that comes with fingering a colleague. Maybe it's time to acknowledge that even with reticent witnesses, the law still makes it easier for serious wrong-doing to be discovered. That's a victory of sorts.    

For more:
- here's the survey results