SHRM 2021 National Annual Conference Recap
Probably best if I start this blog post with a confession. Given the chaotic “still in pandemic mode” times that we find ourselves in, it’s tough to feel optimistic about in-person events. Masks, vaccinations, socially distanced dining, hotels, airports, taxis, buses, elevators……. All those thoughts dampened my hopes for SHRM annual conference 2021 in Las Vegas. Still…
The Foundation of an Ethical Workplace Investigation
At ETHIX360, we believe that workplace investigations and the associated processes form an integral part of any effective compliance program. In fact, I’ve always believed that although companies may have a general Code of Ethics, any organization that manages internal workplace investigations should also have…
Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Goodnight
As we wrap up 2020, all of us will certainly remember this year for the many things it was, but likely something will stand out for each of us individually. For some, that is grief – the loss of a friend, family member, or coworker to COVID. For others, it may be resilience – 2020 was a year of bouncing back. Some may say…
Remember the Future?
This week my wife and I were talking about the plans we had for 2020 last fall. A cross-country visit from our grandchildren, a vacation for us. All obviously postponed due the jarring effects of COVID. We talked about people we know who we lost to this awful virus and how…
… Down Will Come Baby, Cradle and All.
This is the dilemma I fear most. In two recent blog posts, When the bough breaks… and …the Cradle Will Fall…, I explored the “upstream” impact of changing and evolving societal norms as a driver for regulatory change, and the “downstream” impact of regulatory change that is not the will of the people forcing societal change.
Struggling to Navigate through an Ethics and Compliance Solution in the time of COVID?
For most companies, fall is the time for checking in on all things HR and compliance. Open enrollment periods for benefits, switching out PEO’s to be ready for a January 1 cutover, adding a hotline, or even changing your hotline provider - it seems the bulk of those decisions are made in the fall. But this year is different in so many ways. Whether you are…
Increase Employee Engagement: Listen to Your Employees as You Reopen During the Pandemic
Last week, our CEO J Rollins wrote a blog post about reopening our office and the unique challenges we've had to face as a software organization. As ETHIX360’s CCO and VP of Customer Experience, I am constantly engaging with clients and other HR and Compliance professionals on their current reopening challenges and possible solutions. Sharing challenges and solutions with colleagues has been…
Reopening Your Office? Make Sure You Cover Your Compliance Bases!
Around the world, companies are either in the process of reopening offices, considering reopening offices, or in some cases already have. I know we have done a “soft” re-opening at ETHIX360, with about 25% of the workforce. Like most of you, we needed to “rethink” things to incorporate…
Gratitude-Based Workplace Ethics
Most of us believe that a big part of ethics can be wrapped up into simply doing the right thing, every time you have a choice. 2500 years ago, Plato maintained a virtue-based concept of ethics. In fact, in Plato's Republic…
Why Do People Hate Their Jobs?
I saw a Gallup poll about a year ago that concluded 30 percent of U.S. workers are engaged with their jobs, another 50 percent are “non-engaged,” and an astonishing 20 percent “actively disengaged.” So people not only hate their jobs — they’re completely checking out.
SCCE Conference 2019 Recap from ETHIX360
Yet again, the SCCE knocks the ball out of the park in 2019. My team and I just attended the 18th Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute show at the Gaylord Hotel, in National Harbor, MD. We had a great experience; our days were full of networking, valuable knowledge, and best practice sharing amongst peers.
Managing Millennials: How to Jive with Younger Generations in the Workplace
Do you struggle to relate to your company’s younger staff? Millennials in the workplace may require updates to your communication methods. Read some of the best tips in managing millennials, from ETHIX360’s own summer intern, Hannah.
How to Get Proactive for Your Healthcare Client’s FDR Compliance Requirements
Being a vendor for a healthcare client means aligning with additional FDR compliance regulations. Learn how to make it easy for your client, and yourself, from ETHIX360.
The Anonymous Tip: Making it Easy for Employees to do the Right Thing
The one-size-fits-all approach to anonymous reporting may not fit with every employee’s communication preferences. ETHIX360 explains why offering a variety employee hotline channels will give your company the best results.
My Top 4 Takeaways from the 2018 Annual SCCE Conference
Over the past 14 years of my ethics and compliance career, I have had the pleasure of attending many SCCE conferences and events. This year, I was able to experience the 17th Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute, Hosted by the Society for Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) through 3 lenses. I attended this year’s conference as a speaker, an attendant, and as a vendor. Looking through my tri-colored lens, here are the 4 most important takeaways from this year’s conference.
What Has One Year of #MeToo Taught Us About Preventing Workplace Sexual Harassment?
On the anniversary of the sexual harassment accusations against Harvey Weinstein that sparked the #MeToo movement, ETHIX360 takes a look back at the statistics over the past year & the changes in company culture.
Advice for Young CEOs: Healthy Corporate Culture Is Essential for Achieving Goals
In the well-known business book Built to Last by Jim Collins, he uses the phrase BHAG (pronounced bee hag), an acronym for Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Part of being a CEO is to paint the BHAGs in a way that employees aspire to them, live them, and see alignment with them as a litmus test for innovation.
What Does Workplace Sexual Harassment Say About Your Corporate Culture?
This attitude of “it won’t happen to me… to us” is often referred to as optimism bias. People blindly believe that “it” won’t happen to them or “it” wouldn’t happen at their company. And unfortunately, the “it” within many companies can be the denial that workplace sexual harassment would ever occur within their organization.
Simple and Effective Tips for Human Resources Investigations
As you build trust and promote your ethics and compliance hotline, your employees will start to share their questions and concern either through your hotline web portal, over the phone, directly to you, or directly to management. Remember regardless of how the concern comes in or to whom it is reported you should have a consistent process in place to document and manage the investigation.
What Corporate Compliance Programs Can Teach Us About School Safety
Working in the world of corporate ethics and compliance for the past decade has taught me that visibility leads to knowledge. One of my favorite quotes is from Confucius, “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.” I think many of the school systems across the US have a blind spot and do not realize that what worked yesterday may not work today, and certainly will not work tomorrow.