Lynda Hilliard (lyndahilliard@hotmail.com) is Principal of Hilliard Compliance Consulting in Mount Shasta, CA.
Over the past 18 months, reports of alleged work place sexual harassment, other types of harassment, or discrimination have increased as employees have felt more comfortable coming forward and being heard and believed. What has fueled that increase? Has our professionalism and norms of appropriate work behavior changed? Or are we as managers becoming more in tuned to listen to and address allegations of abuse, discrimination, or non-compliance?
How can we as compliance professionals encourage openness and improved communication in our organizations regarding regulatory compliance concerns? Is it enough to have publicized confidential hotlines? Or do we need to do more to encourage an environment that promotes open discussions about employee conduct towards each other, and/or towards the ethical and compliant fulfillment of their job duties?