ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS: Protect your people and your organization

In today's complex business environment, ethical lapses and Compliance violations pose significant risks to an organization's reputation, financial stability, and employee morale. A robust Ethics and Compliance program, including a confidential reporting mechanism, is essential for mitigating these risks. Consider these statistics:

Ethics and Compliance programs are most effective when they not only exist but are actively used and trusted. The true measure of success lies in how effectively the program empowers employees to speak up and drives positive change within the organization. To maximize the impact of your Ethics and Compliance policy, consider these key design elements:

What are your most important PRIORITIES? It’s important to identify the most important aspects of your program. For example, you may make different design decisions if your priority is to curate the employees experience than if your priority is to maximize data collection.

Where does ENGAGEMENT happen?

Multiple reporting options are needed. Employee preference actually puts hotlines at the bottom of the list2:  • 60% reported to a supervisor, • 21% reported to executive management, •  11% reported to a hotline

How does your program reinforce your CULTURE?

We all know that official practices and ‘the way things really work’ aren’t always the same. Aligning your Ethics and Compliance program to your organization’s overall culture and expected behaviors can benefit innovation, continuous improvement, and more.

Sources: 1 – HR Acuity, “Key Findings and Statistics on Workplace Harassment and Misconduct” 2023  Link; 2 - HR Acuity, “Ensure Voices are Heard: The importance of Ethics Hotlines in Employee Relations” 2024  Link; 3 – PWC’s 2024 Trust Survey Link