In Korea, whistleblowers are perceived to be disloyal to their companies and therefore branded as “traitors.” The South Korean Educational Broadcasting System (EBS) wants to change that perception via a one-hour documentary, airing June 6, that I am delighted to be part of. I’ll be in good company. EBS contacted and interviewed Louis Clark, Executive Director… [Read More]
The EU Whistleblower Legislation- a Game Changer
Last year I was inspired by the report on the European Commission (EC) proposing a new law to strengthen whistleblower protection across the EU. The press release in 2018 said that the proposal would guarantee a high level of protection for whistleblowers who report breaches of EU law by setting new, EU-wide standards. It would… [Read More]
Brigham Young University: Practicing What They Preach
It is always a privilege to be invited to speak at a University to accounting and business students and their faculty. This last week I had that honor- of presenting to Brigham Young University’s Marriott School of Management and Wheatley Institution, to these groups on ethics and how important integrity is in the business world…. [Read More]
Did We Learn Anything From the 2008 Financial Crisis?
Last year, fellow Bank Whistleblowers United colleague, Michael Winston, the Countrywide Whistleblower, and I, along with C.R. “Rusty” Cloutier, MidSouth Bankcorp. Inc, Founding President and CEO, and Rashad Abdel –Khalik, PhD. Professor of International Accounting at the University of Illinois, joined Dennis McCuistion; the host of the McCuistion Program for an insightful look at “What… [Read More]
Does Whistleblowing Pay? New Study Says Yes!
There’s a high cost to being a whistleblower. As my Bank Whistleblowers United colleagues and I can attest to, being a whistleblower means losing your job and most future possibilities of getting another position in your profession are slim to none; not to mention the human cost of the stress and emotion involved and the personal… [Read More]
The Whistleblower: David vs Goliath — You Don’t Have to Be A Giant to Make a Difference
The story of David and Goliath is one most of us are familiar with. Goliath, the Bible character, as told in the Books of Samuel, is described as a giant Philistine warrior who was defeated by the young and small David, a shepherd and future king of the Israelites. No one would stand up to… [Read More]
ENRON Stands Unprecedented as the Poster Child of Blatant Corporate Fraud
In 2001, Enron, then the seventh largest company in the world and the most innovative company in America, whose stock prices doubled every three years, imploded. The American energy company based in Houston, Texas went from $100 billion in revenues and $1 billion in profit to bankrupt, leaving thousands out of work and with no… [Read More]
Speaking Out Has a Price… Are You Willing to Pay the Cost?
This week I had the opportunity to speak to the University of Nebraska at Omaha for their fifth annual Accounting Speaker Series. Close to two hundred accounting alumni as well as business school students taking ethics courses attended. Many of these young men and women would be auditing company books. Many would see red flags… [Read More]
There Aren’t Any Hallmark Cards for Whistleblowers… Yet!
Well National Whistleblower Appreciation Day came and went July 30th, without much fanfare or appreciation from most. Still, the fact that there is such a designated day is a step in the right direction. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore), and their bipartisan Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus led the charge and the U.S…. [Read More]
Whistleblowers: Who They Are and Why You Should Care
The McCuistion TV episode can be viewed by following this link: Full Episode The award–winning McCuistion Television Program, now in its 26th year on KERA, PBS TV, and The National Center for Policy Analysis, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization with a goal of developing and promoting private, free-market alternatives to government regulation and… [Read More]
