Percentage of certified fraud examiners who said the most common reason behind institutional deceit was the pressure "to do whatever it takes to meet goals," according to the "2007 Oversight Systems Report on Corporate Fraud" released by Oversight Systems: 80

Percentage who also cited executives seeking personal gain: 71

WHAT RENTERS WANT

Ranks of air conditioning (81 percent), parking (81 percent), washer and dryer in unit (54 percent), high-speed Internet in unit (47 percent) and dishwasher (46 percent) as the most important amenities looked for by renters in their apartment search, according to a survey by apartments.com: 1 (tie), 3, 4, 5

Percentage of renters who say air conditioning is the one amenity they cannot live without: 36

WHOSE GREAT IDEA?

Percentage of U.S. employees at big companies who say that the best ideas for making the company more successful come from "all levels" of employees: 57

Percentage who say that the best ideas come from the CEO or president: 8

Percentage of U.S. employees who say management fails to seek out employee input: 39

Percentage of U.S. employees at big companies who say they sometimes "ignore company rules because they've developed better ways of getting work done": 37

PERKS OF BEING A DAD

Percentage of working fathers who say the workplace benefit they appreciate the most is a flexible work schedule, according to a survey conducted by Monster.com: 53

Percentage who said paid paternity leave: 10

THE GIFT OF GRUB

Percentage increase in the market for food gifts between 2004 and 2006, according to "Food Gifting in the United States," a report from market research publisher Packaged Facts: 56

Percentage rise in self-gifting, or "one for you, one for me" shopping between the 2005 and 2006 holiday seasons: 8

Percentage of people who admitted to buying food gifts for themselves: 26

FLYING WITH FIDO

Percentage of people with pets who travel with their collared companions, according to the results of TripAdvisor's annual traveling with pets survey: 53

Percentage of pet owners who said they will only stay at pet-friendly accommodations: 52

IT, PHONE HOME

Percentage of chief information officers surveyed who said their company's IT workforce is telecommuting at a rate that is the same or higher than five years ago, according to a poll conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology: 44

Percentage of respondents who do not allow their IT workforce to telecommute: 51

Percentage of respondents whose IT workers telecommute who said the greatest benefit to their firm is the increased productivity of the IT workforce by reducing commute time: 28

Percentage who said improved retention and morale of IT workforce through enhanced work/life balance: 34

OFFICE POLITICS

Percentage of U.S. workers who say they feel presidential candidates are not addressing workplace issues like healthcare, retirement and pay, according to a study for The Marlin Co.: 38

Percentage of U.S. workers who say their top managers openly express their political preferences at work: 24

Percentage of U.S. workers who say they do not fit in with their company's culture in terms of politics: 26

LOCATION, LOCATION ...

Percentage of Americans who said that "place" is the most important factor when planning a vacation, according to a survey conducted for the U.S. Tour Operators Association: 66

Percentage who said they choose a destination first and then shop for the best value: 35

Percentage who said they typically repeat favorite vacation spots: 31

SEARCH: 'HEADACHE'

Percentage of online adults dubbed "cyberchondriacs" — those who say that they have gone online to look for information about health topics, according to the results of a nationwide Harris Poll: 84

Percentage who say that the health information they found online was reliable: 86

IDLE THOUGHT

"Whatever people in general do not understand, they are always prepared to dislike; the incomprehensible is always the obnoxious."

— Letitia E. Landon, author

Readers can contact John MacIntyre at johnmacintyre@bwr.eastlink.ca.