SB 553 Workplace Violence Prevention California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) No. 553 into law on September 30, 2023. This new law requires nearly all California employers to establish protocols for handling and resolving incidents of workplace violence - bringing with it some very specific requirements. The law takes effect July 1, 2024, and does not include a grace period for implementation. What is the new law SB 553 in California? SB 553 requires California employers to implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan There is no grace period for companies to h ..read more

Fraud causes heartache and a complete disintegration of trust I recently shared a story about a former organization being scammed and how that series of events affected my passion for speaking up. I have another story that is even more harrowing as it involved a long term and trusted employee who took it upon himself to run a second set of books within the organization - for years. This time, not only was this fraud happening over a long period of time, the fraudster directed and encouraged the other employees at this remote location to carry out his fraudulent behavior. The scheme was eventua ..read more

Fraud can strike when you least expect it. Here's our story... This is the true story of one of WhistleBlower Security's previous sister companies. When I started WhistleBlower Security so many years ago, little did I realize that I was about to discover that I had been working for a business that was in the process of being scammed. The irony of this still sits with me to this day and I think drives some of my passion and commitment to ensuring employees have options to speak up. The first scam involved a sales rep whose wife was a business manager of one of our clients. Our sales rep would d ..read more

Trust and support should not be a limited workplace commodity Many employees feel that trust and support given out by leadership is hard to come by. In their organization there is a convinced view that many of the decisions that are made are unjust. This sentiment of workplace injustice can breed employee dissatisfaction and disempowerment, hindering collaboration and productivity. When employees believe that trust and support in the workplace is genuinely provided, this crucial aspect of a workplace culture will help form the bedrock of a positive workplace environment that encourages product ..read more

Fostering a psychologically safe workplace culture is crucial Today's rapidly evolving workplace landscape is depending more and more on organizations building a culture of psychological safety into their very core operations. The workplace is built on a variety of diverse people, cultures, personalities, ideas and challenges, so it goes without saying that creating a believably safe environment for employees to prosper is the linchpin for allowing them to unleash their full potential.  An environment where all individuals feel empowered to speak-up, raise concerns, and challenge the stat ..read more

Whistleblower hotlines connect employees to management A whistleblower hotline is an important method of connecting your employees with management in order to gain a holistic understanding of a company's workplace culture. In the past, the word 'whistleblower' had many negative connotations associated with it. The word would be associated with snitch, rat, traitor. The list went on. Essentially, whistleblowers were considered a person nobody wanted to be associated with. There may still be a little noise or confusion around the word, but generally, society understands that whistleblowers play ..read more

Complexities of Fraud Detection in Not-for-Profit Organizations Within communities, the not-for-profit organization stands as a pillar of hope, aiming to make a positive impact on it's community, and society. These entities are generally driven by a commitment to social causes and the pursuit of good. However, this can often be overshadowed by misconduct happening within the organization. Detecting fraud within not-for-profits can be challenging. These organizations face unique challenges and hurdles that many for-profit entities don't. This creates an environment where identifying fraudulent ..read more

Today's fast-paced and regulated business world requires a strong culture of compliance. This is crucial for organizations to maintain ethical standards and mitigate risks. This pillar page will explore the power of whistleblowers, the role of ethics hotlines, and strategies for developing a culture of compliance. By embracing transparency and empowering individuals to speak-up, companies can enhance their operational efficiency, improve ethics, and foster a stronger organizational culture. Recognizing the Value of Whistleblowers Whistleblowers have often been thought of as 'trouble makers'. T ..read more

Larger organizations understand the crucial role that whistleblower hotlines play within their business structure. Those that are publicly traded are mandated to have a system in place for the receipt of whistleblower complaints. But many smaller organization may not understand just how crucial a role whistleblower hotlines play in promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct. There are several misconceptions surrounding whistleblowing, particularly when it comes to small businesses. This blog post debunks six common myths smaller businesses have about whistleblowing and will hi ..read more

Consider hiring a whistleblower Whistleblowers have often been placed in a category of 'trouble makers' - those who stir up trouble and cause inconveniences for companies. Yet, we have shifted our perceptions of whistleblowers considerably, to the point where companies are beginning to (and many have) recognize the value that whistleblowers bring to the table. This post will explore reasons why companies should consider hiring a whistleblower. These are words that were not typically spoken together in the past. Let's change the narrative. Embracing transparency and empowering individuals who s ..read more