EthicsLine helps you comply with the strict legal requirements for protecting whistleblowers. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 introduced many of these requirements, which were passed in response to numerous financial scandals over several years. The goal of the Act is to protect investors by requiring companies traded on U.S. stock exchanges to adhere to strict governance requirements.

• Section 301: The Audit Committee must provide a mechanism for employees to remain anonymous when reporting concerns about accounting or audit irregularities.
• Section 301: The Audit Committee must provide a process for the “receipt, retention and treatment” of complaints regarding financial irregularities.
• Section 404: The Annual Report must contain a statement regarding the effectiveness of internal controls. The hotline is one of these controls.
• Section 806: Employees must have the right to sue the company for whistleblower retaliation.
• Section 1107: Managers found guilty of retaliation face penalties, including up to 10 years in prison.

Sarbanes-Oxley requirements continue to evolve. In fact, renewed U.S. legislation now provides guidance for managers to evaluate internal controls such as hotlines. It also prohibits any new filing extensions for non-accelerated filers, which means that new companies do not have as long to become compliant.

The effects of Sarbanes-Oxley are now extending beyond the borders of the United States. As other countries adopt similar legislation, more companies will be affected. No matter where you do business, EthicsLine can help you meet these complex requirements and optimize your compliance efforts.

Compliance can get tricky, but EthicsLine makes it easy. EthicsLine not only gets your organization in compliance with these rules, but it also keeps you in compliance with other ever changing domestic and international regulations.

Call us today at 888-782-4769  to find out how EthicsLine makes compliance simple.