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NewsCompliance & Ethics Professional March/April 2012Almost half of US workershave observed misconductThe Ethics Resource Centerannounced in Januarythe results of its NationalBusiness Ethics Survey. Inits January 5 press release,it stated “Over the past twoyears, 45 percent of U.S.employees observed a violationof the law or ethicsstandards at their places ofemployment. Reporting ofthis wrongdoing was at an alltimehigh—65 percent—butso too was retaliation againstemployees who blew thewhistle: more than one in fiveemployees who reported misconductthey saw experiencedsome form of retaliation inreturn.” To download thecomplete survey results, visitwww.ethics.org/nbes ✵OECD criticizes corruptionenforcement in three nationsThe Organization forEconomic Development’sWorking Group on Briberyreleased three reports inJanuary to chastise threenations for poor corruptionenforcement. The internationalgroup urged Japan,Italy, and Switzerland todo more to implementthe OECD’s Conventionof Combating Bribery ofForeign Public Officials, anagreement that all threecountries had previouslysigned. The group assertedthat Japan and Switzerlandeach had only completed twoprosecutions since signingthe convention, and Italy hadonly sanctioned three companiesand nine individuals,after bringing 60 defendantsto trial. ✵“‘Over the past two years, 45 percentof U.S. employees observed a violationof the law or ethics standards at theirplaces of employment…more thanone in five employees who reportedmisconduct they saw experiencedsome form of retaliation in return.’”Read the latest news online · www.corporatecompliance.org/newsEx-SECofficial finedfor taking jobwith allegedPonzi schemerThe complex fraud caseof Robert Allen Stanfordis far from resolution, butone segment of the casehas concluded. The JusticeDepartment reported inJanuary that a formerSecurities and ExchangeCommission official hasagreed to pay a $50,000 finefor working with the allegedPonzi schemer after allegedlytaking part in SEC decisionsnot to investigate him.Spencer C. Barasch, alawyer who was head ofenforcement in the SEC’sFort Worth regional office,left the SEC in 2005 andwent on to briefly representStanford in an agencyprobe. According to theSEC’s Inspector General, thatwas after Barasch had beeninvolved in SEC decisions notto pursue warnings aboutStanford. Barasch has deniedany allegations of wrongdoing,the Justice Departmenthas reported. However, undera civil settlement, he agreedto pay the maximum fine fora violation of the statute. ✵6 www.corporatecompliance.org +1 952 933 4977 or 888 277 4977