Day: July 12, 2023

31 Days to More Effective Compliance Programs

One Month to More Effective Reporting and Investigations – Internal Reporting and Whistleblowers During Layoffs

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Post date July 12, 2023
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In Houston, we have experienced energy companies laying off upwards of 30% of their workforce in the US and abroad. Employment separations can be one of the trickiest maneuvers to manage in the spectrum of the employment relationship. Even when an employee is aware layoffs are coming, it can still be quite a shock when Human Resources (HR) shows up at their door and says, “Come with me.” However, layoffs, massive or otherwise, can present some unique challenges for the FCPA compliance practitioner. Employees can use layoffs to claim that they were retaliated against for various complaints, including those for concerns that impact the compliance practitioner. Yet there are several actions you can take to protect your company as much as possible.

These actions allow you to demonstrate that any laid-off employee was not separated because of a hotline or whistleblower allegation but due to your overall layoff scheme. However, it could be that you may need this person to provide your compliance department additional information, to be a resource to you going forward, or even a witness that you can reasonably anticipate the government may want to interview. If any of these situations exist, if you do not plan for their eventuality before you lay off the employee, said (now) ex-employee may not be inclined to cooperate with you going forward. Also, demonstrating that you are sincerely interested in a meritorious hotline complaint may keep this person from becoming an SEC whistleblower.

Three Key Takeaways:

An employment separation is critical if an internal report has been made.
Have appropriate language in your separation agreement.
Treat terminated employees with dignity and respect.

Tags 31 Days to a More Effective Compliance Program, compliance, internal reporting, layoffs, whistleblowers

Trekking Through Compliance

Trekking Through Compliance – Episode 41 – The Deadly Years

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Post date July 12, 2023
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In this episode of Trekking Through Compliance, we consider the episode The Deadly Years, which aired on December 8, 1967, Star Date 3478.2.

When Chekov, Spock, Lt. Gallway, McCoy, Kirk, and Scotty beam down to resupply the experimental colony on Gamma Hydra 4, they initially find no one home. They find the leader, Robert Johnson, and his wife, Elaine. Both appear to be extremely old. Kirk beams the landing party up together with those of the colonists who are still alive. Aboard the Enterprise, the colonists die of old age.

Kirk then begins to lose his memory and displays advanced arthritis. Commodore Stocker becomes increasingly concerned about Kirk’s condition and forces Spock to hold a competency hearing. Kirk is found incompetent, and Commodore Stocker takes over. An injection containing adrenaline, used on Kirk and the shot, is effective. Kirk assumes back control of the Enterprise, which is now under attack by the Romulans thanks to Stocker’s incompetence in violating the Neutral Zone.

Using an old subterfuge, Kirk transmits a message that he will destroy the Enterprise using a corbomite device. The Romulans give a little ground lest they be destroyed in the upcoming explosion, and Kirk immediately races out of the Neutral Zone and into Federation space at Warp 8.

Compliance Takeaways:
1.     Just because research is discontinued does not mean it is invalid.
2.     Training-Why was Chekov’s reaction like that of a schoolboy?
3.     How do you show your compliance team’s quality, ability, and competence?
Resources
Excruciatingly Detailed Plot Summary by Eric W. Weisstein
MissionLogPodcast.com
Memory Alpha

Tags CCO, compliance, Leadership, Star Trek, Star Trek TOS, The Deadly Years, TOS

Compliance and AI

Mastering ChatGPT: Part 3 – Revolutionizing Education and Compliance Training

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Post date July 12, 2023
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Welcome to a special five part podcast series on mastering ChatGPT. My special guest throughout this journey is Larry Roberts, an accomplished professional with over 25 years of multifaceted experience. Having initiated his career in the corporate training sphere, he exhibited a remarkable shift to IT, contributing greatly as a Business Intelligence Analyst. His proficiency lies in harnessing predictive analytics for inventory and sales projections, which led him to tap into the realm of AI. In 2021, Larry chose to cozy up with podcasting and content creation. His tryst with ChatGPT began in November the same year and he has been fully engrossed with it since then. His insights into data models, large language models, and his overall passion for AI are certain to illuminate any forum. In this Episode 3, we look how ChatGPT can transform education and what this will mean for compliance training.

As we confront the digital age, educators, teachers and even communicators can no longer afford to be left behind. The rise of AI in education, epitomized by tools like ChatGPT, opens new frontiers in delivering accessible, affordable, and advanced learning experiences. However, this isn’t without complexities. There are pertinent steps to be taken – setting clear expectations, aligning AI with institutional policies, maximizing the collaborative capabilities of AI, and ensuring human oversight in AI implementation. By so doing, we can create an enriching learning environment that contributes positively to personal and professional development. In this episode, we explore these issues and others in considering how this will impact compliance training and communications.

In this episode, you will be able to:

· Unlock key strategies to optimize your use of ChatGPT.

· Acknowledge the importance of crafting a suitable persona and forming the right stage for elevated outcomes.

· Unravel the issues corporate compliance functions may encounter while using ChatGPT, shedding ample light on effective solutions.

· Learn how one can effectively utilize ChatGPT in making speeches and presentations.

· Prognosticate the prospective impacts of ChatGPT and AI on the future compliance training landscape.

Key Highlights

· Setting Expectations

· Limitations for Corporations

· Leveraging Chat GPT for training

· The Human Element and AI

Resources

Larry Roberts

Larry Roberts on LinkedIn

Tom Fox

Tags AI, ChatGPT, compliance, compliance training, Education, Larry Roberts

Blog

Mastering ChatGPT: Revolutionizing Education and Compliance Training

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Post date July 12, 2023
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In Part 3 of this special five-part blog series, we delve into the potential impact of ChatGPT and AI on education and compliance training. Educators and compliance professionals, this is a must-read for you! As always, I am joined in this exploration by Larry Roberts, whose extensive experience and insights will shed light on how AI-powered tools like ChatGPT can revolutionize education by improving accessibility and affordability. But that’s not all. Roberts’s story as someone who uses ChatGPT for content creation and training courses will make you feel like you are on the same journey. We will consider the challenges corporations face in aligning the AI model with their policies and procedures and how to overcome them. This article will provide valuable answers if you have grappled with how AI can enhance compliance training while ensuring ethical considerations and human control. Get ready to unlock the potential of ChatGPT and AI in education!

Roberts is a prominent figure in the AI industry and an avid educator, continuously exploring and implementing advanced technologies such as ChatGPT. With a background in IT and a deep understanding of how programming and software development work, Larry’s expertise shines through when discussing technical complexities. He is noted for his aptitude in leveraging ChatGPT as an educational tool, maximizing the application’s potential by adapting its conversational models to the user’s needs. Larry, also an effective communicator, can simplify complex concepts for individuals at different stages of the learning process.

Leveraging ChatGPT

Embracing technology, especially artificial intelligence, holds transformative potential for the educational sector. With proper incorporation, AI models such as ChatGPT can massively streamline the content creation process, facilitating e-learning and enhancing the students’ overall learning experience. Artificial intelligence can be a comprehensive tutor, reducing the burden on human educators and making learning more interactive. With a deep training background, Larry Roberts testified to using ChatGPT for crafting speeches and expressed his vision regarding its possible utilization in fabricating in-house training materials. He believes these AI tools, provided with appropriate guidelines, can eliminate the need for subject matter experts and enable anyone to access and learn new topics in depth.

Limitations

The idea of an AI model aligned with company-compliance policies and procedures certainly seems appealing, but it is more complex than it might appear. While AI models such as ChatGPT possess a vast range of knowledge, they lack access to proprietary information or internal methodologies of organizations. Recognizing this, organizations should know that models like ChatGPT can provide training based on best practices rather than the company’s unique operation. While ChatGPT can offer a comprehensive understanding of various compliance-related topics, inherent limitations exist due to the need for more access to company-specific processes or principles. This can be overcome but also highlights the need for a tangible human interface to orient and incorporate ChatGPT within corporate compliance specifics suitably.

Human Element and AI

Even with the rise of AI-powered tools, the human element remains irreplaceable. It is still the humans who design, program, and oversee AI models, and it is paramount that this construction remains so. While AI models continually evolve, they can’t substitute human decision-making, ethics, and judgment abilities. The balance AI models provide with human intervention helps maintain ethical standards and prevent any untoward overstepping of bounds. This essentiality of human oversight cannot be overstated. Their common contention was that AI tools like ChatGPT are potent tools that can revolutionize various sectors. However, they will always require human guidance to navigate ethical considerations and control their capabilities. They cautioned that AI surpassing human control should be approached with wariness. They believe the relationship should be more of a collaboration where humans and AI effectively work together while avoiding over-dependence on technology.

Let us remember that we have the power to shape the future of compliance training. By harnessing the potential of ChatGPT and AI, we can create an inclusive and accessible education system that empowers corporate stakeholders to reach their full potential. The possibilities are endless, and with commitment, dedication, and an open mind, we can revolutionize compliance training and enable stakeholders from all corporate relationships to access advanced knowledge and skills like never before. Together, let’s embrace the power of AI in education and create a brighter future for all learners. Join us tomorrow when we consider how ChatGPT will transform education and compliance training.

For more information on Larry Roberts, check out Red Hat Media.

Tags AI, ChatGPT, compliance, compliance training, Larry Roberts, Red Hat Media

Hill Country Authors

Hill Country Podcast: Peggy Sundberg – Cowgirl Peg & Crooze on Croozer: Blind Inspiration

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Post date July 12, 2023
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Welcome to the award-winning The Hill Country Authors Podcast. In this podcast, Hill Country resident Tom Fox visits with authors who live in and write up the Texas Hill Country.

In this episode, Tom visits with children’s book author Peggy Sundberg, Cowgirl Peg. Peggy has achieved inspiring success stories through her love of writing and animals. Peggy, born and raised in Alvin, Texas, developed a love of writing and horses from a young age and had a lifelong dream of rescuing ancient horses that nobody wanted anymore. She was able to pursue her dream when she was 50, and her lifestyle changed, living in a horse trailer and a barn on a small ranch in western Colorado. Peggy had four horses and five fosters residing on the ranch and worked with a group out of Denver to foster horses. She also had a lifelong dream of writing children’s books with meaningful messages and could do this after rescuing a little horse and hearing his story. The book was about friendship and tolerance of differences in a happy way.

Peggy’s latest book, Crooze on Croozer, was not planned and was inspired by a woman who asked her to write a book about her dog. The book is about a blind blue healer dog and is told from the dog’s perspective. Peggy did research with the Texas School for the Blind to ensure she was getting the story right, and the book is meant to be a feel-good story and to inspire those with disabilities to do great things. The book is a truly Texan product, and I hope it will make kids think about what it would be like to be blind and appreciate what they can see.

Key Highlights:

Cowgirl Peg Adventures
Love of Horses
Crooze on Croozer
Rescuing Horses
Cowgirl Peg

Resources:

Peggy Sundberg

Tom Fox

Tags Cowgirl Peg, Crooze on Croozer, Peggy Sundberg

Compliance Into the Weeds

Compliance into the Weeds: Compliance into the Weeds Takes a Eurotrip with Compliance Man

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Post date July 12, 2023
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The award winning, Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast which takes a deep dive into a compliance related topic, literally going into the weeds to more fully explore a subject. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on sanctions compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds!

In this episode, co-hosts Tom Fox and Matt Kelly are joined by Compliance Man himself Tim Khasanov-Batirov. We consider how the Airbus scandal has highlighted the importance of compliance and ethics in corporate conduct in France, and the need for reliable data in ESG reporting, artificial intelligence, and third party risk management. We also discuss the challenges faced by American and European compliance professionals, and the need for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in creating a strong speak up culture. They discussed the EU Whistleblower Directive, which states that anonymous reports should be allowed, and the importance of clean conduct in government agencies. Compliance practitioners have an important role to play in this process, and the EU is leading the world’s discussions around ESG reporting.