While over one in five Dutch workers think there is widespread corruption in Dutch industry, few think it applies to their own firm or sector, according to a new survey by accountancy firm Ernst & Young.

Some 23% of managers and staff think bribery and corruption is widespread in Dutch companies but only 4% think it is a feature in the sector in which they operate, the survey on fraud and business risks found.

In addition, 23% think companies in the Netherlands manipulate their financial reports to make their performance look better, but only 8% think this happens in their own firm.

Ernst & Young partner Angelique Keijsers told reporters the results are ‘extremely worrying’. ‘The pressure is so high on workers – not just the board but across all layers of the company – that people are tempted to justify unethical behaviour and polish their results,’ she told the NRC.