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Many businesses fear that when they launch a new Code of Conduct, or whistleblower hotline, there may be employee pushback. There's also fear that such things may create their own cluster of issues like managing internal investigations, employee discipline, and retaliation. Rarely does implementing a hotline receive employee pushback. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Not only do these reporting mechanisms satisfy the mandate of Sarbanes-Oxley for public companies, and the credibility for non-profits and private organizations, management can look better in the eyes of because they are seen as taking a stand against workplace misconduct, and valuing employee feedback.

Why do some good employees commit fraud? We've seen in the ACFE's Report to the Nations findings that the higher the perpetrator's level of authority, the greater the fraud losses tend to be. It goes to say that many white collar crimes aren't committed by 'hardened criminals', but instead these crimes are being committed by people who are under severe pressure from management or shareholders.

Employees look to leadership to guide them on how to engage in the correct behaviour A number of years ago, Bernie Ebbers, co-founder of WorldCom said this: A Proposed Code of Ethics "Was a Colossal Waste of Time". We all know where that statement got him and the company. Every employee under Mr. Ebbers got the same message - find creative ways to make the numbers work.

Considering Revamping Your Code of Conduct? Or Maybe You're Creating One From Scratch? Here's a Few Things You Should Take Into Account. When an organization is about to implement an anti-corruption compliance program, a Code of Conduct is often times that platform upon which that effective program is built. Of course, you don't want that platform to break and have everything come crashing down. So it's important to ensure that a Code of Conduct is clear, concise, and accessible to all employees, and those doing business on the organization's behalf.

Governments Need to Ensure Proactive Ethical Reporting Measures Are in Place Just Like Any Organization As the world has heard by now, Canada was rocked by two unique, and tragic, events. Last week a soldier was killed in a parking lot hit-and-run in what authorities say was linked to terrorist activity. And of course, just a day ago, Cpl. Nathan Cirillo was shot while standing guard at Ottawa's National War Memorial, just a few dozen metres from Parliament Hill, in another attack linked terrorist activity, prompting the Prime Minister to cancel Malala Yousafzai's (Nobel winner) citizenship ceremony.

"Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality" - Albert Schweitzer Want to build a culture of integrity in your organization? Sure you do. Here's how: Effective ethics and compliance programs are key in this objective.