In the recent study released last week, titled: In Focus: Compliance Trends Survey 2013 from Deloitte and Compliance Week, there were some interesting findings. For example:
• 62% outsource ethics hotline operations.
• 32% outsource training.
• 18% outsource investigations.
My question is, when, how and why are all these outsourced processes brought back “in house and then what?
In addition, the study found that the most common areas of responsibility for compliance officers were(in order):
1. Establishing standards for ethical business conduct.
2. Whistleblower protection.
3. The complaints hotline
4. Anti bribery compliance.
And yet, the study goes on the report that compliance budgets are under generally underfunded and understaffed.
So after reading this study, I’m left with a few observations myself.
1. The word or concept of ethics is sparsely used or referred to as crucial to compliance.
2. If whistleblower protection is such a key concern, why do we have the continual issue of lawsuits, retaliation, firing etc. of those who strive to do the right thing by “blowing the
“whistle?”
3. If the compliance training budget is underfunded, as the study reflects, wonder what the ethics s training budget is?
4. I understand the out sourcing the ethics hotline helps to ensure anonymity of the complainant, but the real question here is what really happens to the complaint? Who does what, why and how with the complaint? What’s the follow-up to closure and is the complainant anonymously “kept in the loop?”
I encourage all to read this very insightful study that just came out last week.
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