Ethics

3 Ways to Affect a Different Kind of Climate Change In light of the corporate compliance failures that have entered the news cycle, compliance programs have increasingly focused on the role culture plays in causing these failures. However, while most compliance executives understand the link between culture and employee misconduct, they are not sure how to act on it. In...

How Involved is Your Board? It’s long been said that an effective compliance program can’t exist without a strong culture of ethics and compliance. Also critical is tone from the top, without which there’s no clear directive for the organization and employees on the importance of compliance. The board of directors plays a critical role in setting the right tone....

Morals and Morale in the Workplace There’s a degree of trust at every level of an organisation. Depending on size, it may or may not be easy to communicate with every echelon, but senior figures should always be fully aware of what the attitude and outlook is throughout the company and of their function as role models. Strong ties within...

When Organizations Lack Real Commitment to E&C Every Chief Compliance Officer wants to be on the same page as the C-Suite and board of directors when it comes to a commitment to ethics and compliance. Without experience working inside the organization, however, it is difficult to tell the difference between a company that truly values the E&C program and one...

Ethics experts from Bentley University's Center for Business Ethics discuss several reasons why businesses should have values-driven management, as well as give you a good starting point for implementing values-driven management in your company.

All of us are faced by those moments when doing what’s right is very different from doing what’s easy or what would be the most profitable. Ask yourself what you would do in some of these business situations. Then, ask yourself what you've done.

2017 is shaping up to be the year of populism in the U.S. This has direct implications for compliance, HR and diversity professionals. If diversity is a key driver of business competitiveness, how do you create a culture of ethics, respect and inclusion amidst this rising tide of populism?

It may come as a surprise, but “ethics” has a negative connotation for many in a business context. Similarly, the compliance profession is often viewed negatively, as impinging on employees’ freedom. But those of us on the inside have an entirely different perspective, thinking of compliance as synonymous with integrity. Is it time, then, to rebrand the profession?

Companies with a strong culture of ethics have a real competitive edge in the marketplace. Often these organizations outperform the competition in productivity while also enjoying a lower rate of employee misconduct. Culture may be difficult to measure, but CCOs should focus on continually improving the corporate culture – it’s the company’s most important control.

While it’s vital to have leadership on board in order to have a strong culture of ethics and compliance, an organization must also have the right mechanisms in place so that the team can do their jobs well. Captain Sullenberger was able to land Flight 1549 safely because he had the advantage of a prepared and well-trained staff AND appropriate...

The importance of planning is no more apparent than in times of crises. In 2009, Captain “Sully” Sullenberger landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after both of the plane’s engines failed. A few weeks later, in a formal address to the House, he lauded the virtue of preparedness – both for the risks that can be anticipated and the...

If you know a colleague is taking questionable shortcuts in an attempt to deliver strong performance, and you say nothing, does that make you an accomplice?