Survey Finds Widespread Retaliation Against Compliance Officers

The award-winning Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into a compliance-related topic, literally going into the weeds to explore a subject more fully. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss the recently released Radical Compliance, Case IQ, and Compliance Week-sponsored survey of more than 325 compliance professionals quantifying retaliation against compliance officers. Matt reports that 70% say they have suffered retaliation (79% including those unsure), 67% experienced it more than once, and women report slightly higher rates than men. Common retaliation includes exclusion from meetings (64%), being badmouthed (59.5%), and unwanted role changes (49%), while 28% report being fired. Fear is significant: 36% are uncomfortable raising concerns at their current employer, and 48% have been stopped from doing so at some point. Among those reporting retaliation to management, the responses were poor: 53% saw no action, 21% saw investigations without a remedy, and only 4% felt management supported them. Few go to regulators or sue, though two-thirds of the small group who sued after firing reported satisfactory outcomes. They suggest structural protections such as disclosure of CCO departures, contract/termination safeguards like those in Indian banking rules, and updates to DOJ guidance. Key highlights: Headline Findings Key Stats Breakdown Types of Retaliation Career Impact Stories Protection Ideas Human Toll and Caveats Resources Matt in Radical Compliance Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award-winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcasts, a Top 10 Business Law Podcast, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast. Compliance into the Weeds has been conferred the Davey, Communicator, and W3 Awards, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices