{"id":1018,"date":"2017-03-16T06:39:29","date_gmt":"2017-03-16T06:39:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crigroup.com\/?p=1018"},"modified":"2022-07-13T07:47:30","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T07:47:30","slug":"ethics-and-compliance-hotline-set-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crigroup.com\/ar\/ethics-and-compliance-hotline-set-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethics and Compliance Hotline: your frequently asked questions answered…"},"content":{"rendered":"
Ethics hotlines are growing in popularity. In 2017 the South Africa Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced over 3,000 officials were found guilty of misconduct related to cases reported via the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH). “The closure rate underscores a commitment by government departments to investigate allegations of corruption as reported through the NACH.” Ethics and compliance hotlines work! Organizations must have an ethics and compliance hotline to help promote the organization’s code of conduct and nurture a culture of honesty and accountability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The\u00a0<\/span>2019 Global Business Ethics Survey\u00a0<\/span><\/a>found that more reports of misconduct were made to direct supervisors (a median of 51 per cent) compared to hotlines (6 per cent). However, it is still crucial to have an Ethics and Compliance Hotline. Why? Having an ethics and compliance hotline shows employees that the business leaders genuinely want to hear from them, making it a great employee relations tool.<\/span><\/p>\n The ethics and compliance hotline is an anonymous reporting mechanism. So when the normal channels of communication fail, a hotline can facilitate any flagging. They provide an accessible way for employees to report potential wrongdoing, possibly illegal, unethical, or improper. A company can better protect itself from fraud, learn of employee misconduct and proactively mitigate any corruption-related risk. Despite industry or size, any organisation should be 110% committed to having an open dialogue on ethical dilemmas regardless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CRI\u00ae Group encourages everyone to report any wrongdoing. We believe that everyone should have a voice and protect themselves, colleagues and the organizations that they work for. Everyone must seek to maintain transparency to comply with the code of conduct and compliance regulations. If your organization considers an ethics and compliance hotline, here are some must-knows.<\/span><\/p>\n All individuals – employees, clients, contractors, vendors and others in a business relationship with you or your organization – have a duty and responsibility to report any known or suspected noncompliant behavior or violations of any regulatory mandates and\/or local policies, including but not limited to:<\/span><\/p>\n You can report your concern using the Ethics and Compliance hotlines at any time, 24\/7. And an effective Ethics & Compliance Hotline should allow reporting via phone, email, web-based compliant forms and even walk-ins.<\/span><\/p>\n This will depend on your organization structure; however, if you allow reporting directly by telephone, the caller should speak with the Compliance Department directly. The caller can remain anonymous or may want follow-up, in which case(s) he will give contact details. If the individual submits a report online, the system should guide the individual through the reporting process, and a PIN number will be generated automatically once they complete the report. The compliance department specialist who receives the tip is then in charge of validating it. This compliance officer typically receives special training on gathering enough information to ensure the complaint is credible. The tip is then routed to the right department within the organisation, such as audit, legal, or human resources.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Compliance Department or Committee should then review the report and conduct an investigation. The investigation may include an interview with relevant witnesses review of records, computers, telephones and other equipment per relevant personal data regulations. The reported individual will be able to follow the status of the case and communicate with the Compliance by giving their case number. However, no party can contact the individual directly if you have chosen to remain anonymous. The investigation conclusions and recommendations are reported to Management.<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, if the individual wishes to remain anonymous when reporting their concern, they can. However, you should encourage the individual to identify themselves where\/when possible, enabling your organization to investigate the report more effectively. If they provide their names, your compliance department should protect their confidentiality to the greatest extent possible during the investigation. The organization should have a Non-Retaliation and Whistleblower Policy to help ease the process.<\/span><\/p>\n While on the surface, hotlines may seem a convenient option to receive employee complaints, tips or concerns, often, it’s the process that surrounds the hotline which can determine whether it ultimately succeeds or fails. Areas such as employee relations are particularly challenging for anonymous tips. An organisation needs to have a whistleblower process in place – this is a critical component of any compliance monitoring system. It enables companies to identify and mitigate potential risks early before they impact operations, reputation and ultimately, financial performance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When reporting an issue, encourage individuals to ensure that they provide as much relevant information as possible, for example, the names of persons involved in the alleged conduct, potential witnesses, appropriate documentation or data, visual evidence etc. Provide them with forms that allow them to understand what they need to submit a credible report, with the appropriate questions and empty spaces for further feedback, including the ability to upload any initial profs. This will allow your Compliance to effectively follow up on the case.<\/span><\/p>\n Prove that your business is ethical. Find out if your organisation’s compliance program aligns with worldwide Compliance, Business Ethics, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Frameworks. Complete our FREE Highest Ethical Business Assessment (HEBA) and evaluate your current Corporate Compliance Program. Let our experts prepare a complimentary gap analysis of your compliance program to evaluate if it meets “adequate procedures” requirements under the UK Bribery Act, DOJ’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs Guidance and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.<\/span><\/p>\n Find out what’s a Gap Analysis and why do you need it?<\/span><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n If you find yourself in an ethical dilemma or suspect inappropriate or illegal conduct, feel uncomfortable reporting through normal channels of communication, or wish to raise the issue anonymously, use the reporting process in this Code of Conduct, including the Compliance Hotline. The Compliance Hotline is a secure and confidential reporting channel managed by an independent provider. When reporting a concern in good faith, you will be protected by the CRI\u00ae Group Non-Retaliation Policy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n REPORT NOW!\u00a0<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n CRI\u00ae will not accept any retaliation or discrimination against any employee or external stakeholder who uses our Compliance Hotline in good faith or participates in an investigation. Any employee who breaches the policy will be subject to disciplinary actions. If you wish to learn more just have a look at our article on Ethical code of conduct: What should be covered?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n About us…<\/strong><\/p>\n Based in London, CRI\u00ae Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international\u00a0<\/span>Risk Management<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Employee Background Screening<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>Don’t opt out of an ethics hotline<\/span><\/h3>\n
Who can report? And what can you report?<\/span><\/h3>\n
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How to report?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How does it work?<\/span><\/h3>\n
What is the process of the investigation?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Can we generate anonymous reporting?<\/span><\/h3>\n
What is a Non-Retaliation Policy?<\/span><\/h3>\n
How can we make sure they deliver a credible report?<\/span><\/h3>\n
What makes a successful implementation?<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Are you addressing corporate Compliance?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Report with CRI\u00ae Group!<\/span><\/h3>\n