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The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was a legislative response to institutionalized, ethical failure. Since its passage, ethical awareness, ethical compliance, ethical training, ethical improvement, and ethical oversight have been required supplements in the public company diet.
Although Sarbanes-Oxley specifically regulates public, reporting companies, the legislative intent is much broader in scope. In fact, requirements for "effective compliance and ethics programs" are now embedded in a wide variety of federal, state, local, and professional statutes.
Many of us shrugged-off Sarbanes-Oxley as costly "red tape" for the "big companies" and moved-on with our institutional lives. However, all U.S. organizations are now required to comply with a growing list of ethics-related statutes. Yes, all institutions – whether for-profits, non-profits, universities, or churches – are now expected to create a culture that encourages ethical behavior – "a structural foundation from which an organization may self-police its own conduct through an effective compliance and ethics program."
Ready or not, our organizations are now subject to federal, state, and industry-specific ethics regulations. We can either turn-a-blind-eye and plead "ignorance" when the regulatory agencies come knocking or we can work together to comply with this expanding web of ethical compliance. More importantly, we can use this "red tape" as a powerful opportunity to reposition our organizational cultures for greater leadership and long-term success.
The ROI is simple:
A more ethical and excited culture today means
a more loyal and productive organization tomorrow!
We can help – from beginning to end. We provide the whole package. We call it ETHICS in ACTION™ and we'd love an opportunity to share it with your leadership team!
 – Randall Niles, founder
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"Always do right.
This will gratify some people,
and astonish the rest."
– Mark Twain
 
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