Nasdaq sends strong signal on importance of diversity
-In a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the proposal will require most Nasdaq-listed companies to have at least two diverse directors, including one who self-identifies as female and one who self-identifies as either an underrepresented minority or LGBTQ+. Companies that are not able to meet these requirements must be able to publicly explain why.
Impact of Remote Work on Ethics & Compliance
-The move to remote work has significant impacts on Ethics & Compliance programs. To study the issue in greater depth, Vault Platform joined an Ethics and Compliance Initiative (ECI) working group looking at the impact of remote work on strategy, risk management, culture, speak up climate and processes, and accountability.
Incoming changes to legislation make whistleblowing more rewarding
-The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will implement new rules to its whistleblower program on December 7, with the goal of increasing both the incentives and awards for external whistleblowers.
Breaking the status quo of gender harassment in business
-Research published by the University of Sydney finds that women working in male-dominated industries – such as investment management, automotive, and airline pilots – encounter gender harassment on a daily basis.
Social and environmental risk is financial risk
-A persistent misconception that is only being very slowly eroded is that prioritizing ethics comes at the expense of financial performance. But the evidence suggests this isn’t the case and ethical health is a good indicator of financial health.
Compliance exceptions should not become the ‘new normal’
-When the pandemic first hit businesses had to adapt to survive and as time goes on with no sign of a solution on the horizon many of those ‘quick fixes’ are still in place. But while it’s important for businesses and their respective functions to move with the circumstances, there is a clear requirement for Compliance functions to be aware of new or evolving risks those changes may have presented.
When employee empowerment becomes scary
-Companies of all sizes are under increasing pressure from employees, governments, and customers to drive a strategy that delivers social good as well as shareholder value. Stakeholder value, if you will.
Vault Magazine: The Ethics Issue
-If you look at public sentiment, government and regulator action, and employee activism, it’s clear that doing the bare minimum required to comply with the law is no longer enough as companies are pushed by their employees, governments, and customers to step up and adopt a multi-stakeholder approach that serves social purposes as well as investor demands.
ESG and Compliance for creating real value
-Amid a global rebalancing of corporate purpose for the benefit of all stakeholders, we are seeing more silos being broken down within large enterprises as they seek to combine their ESG (Environmental, Social, & Governance) functions with Ethics & Compliance.
