Compliance

The GSK China scandal came to light through a sex tape, and the anonymous whistleblower who leaked the tape also presented allegations of bribery. GSK's own investigation into the matter has failed to net anything of substance, but the Chinese government has turned up a great deal of evidence pointing to massive systemic bribery.

CIOs must take the lead on IT governance as a means to align the IT division's efforts with the overarching business strategy. But effective IT governance is more than measurement, oversight and the implementation of best practices. The most effective programs facilitate awareness and behavioral change throughout the organization.

An E&C program must be effective -- not necessarily convenient. Does the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer have enough authority and autonomy? What's being reported to the Board, and does the Board have proper oversight of the E&C program? These are just some of the factors that influence the effectiveness of an E&C program.

Independent pharmacies have their work cut out for them when it comes to remaining compliant with ever-changing industry regulations. The mom and pop shops known for their personal service are subject to the same standards as their big-box counterparts. Here’s a rundown of DEA red flags and preventive measures to avoid violations.

An in-depth look at antitrust activity and litigation over the past several years, with keen insight into what’s to come. Effective compliance programs are vital, without a doubt. But if your organization is faced with an antitrust violation, don’t expect leniency from the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice on those grounds.

When assessing how effective your compliance program is, step into the regulators’ shoes. What are they looking for? Current and former high-level staff at the DOJ and SEC have keen insight into the issue. Does spending line up with compliance priorities? What do the roles of your legal and compliance departments say about your commitment to compliance?

When there’s no witness to wrongdoing, it can be so much easier to justify. And there are rarely witnesses when bribes are being made. The situation gets particularly sticky when compensation is a factor; the internal discussion turns from “do I need to report this” to “what would reporting this cost me?”

A few months into its fifth year, the Affordable Care Act remains true to its original set of goals and does not appear to be losing its momentum in its quest to reform health care. Author Craig Garner provides expert analysis of the order's impact on the industry -- and some forecasts for what's to come.

Whistleblowers can and should be integral forces within our compliance programs, but often they’re dismissed, branded traitors and blacklisted instead. Those who set out to blow the whistle often know they’ll be up against some serious opposition. But what about accidental whistleblowers? They’re just as subject to reprisal.

In order to be aligned with FIFA’s requirements to host a World Cup, several temporary legal acts have been issued by the government. This is where (lack of) compliance lies. Compliance is basically a non-issue for Brazil as the country prepares for the World Cup later this year. That’s to say there’s evidently not much concern for meeting requirements...

Whether or not a company is aware of its third parties’ goings on, it can suffer financial or reputational harm as a result of their actions. While culpability can be more difficult to prove, willful or feigned ignorance of likely red flags in highly corrupt areas won’t save the organization from the consequences of third parties’ unseemly conduct.

The changes Presidents bring to pass in their first 100 days in office have long been the measure of their success early on. Like our commanders in chief, our CCOs should aim to hit the ground running, quickly establishing themselves as champions of ethics and compliance. The first orders of business for new CCOs: use all resources available to you...