Compliance professionals recognize the importance of whistleblowing and the positive impact it can have on corporate governance and maintaining ethical business practices. But they are also aware that in many organizations, speak-up mechanisms do not work effectively, are sidelined, or are simply distrusted.
Whistleblowers
World Whistleblower Day: Trust determines whether employees speak up
An employee knows something is wrong. They’ve seen the signs. Maybe they’ve quietly weighed the risks for weeks. The question isn’t whether your organization has a hotline. It’s whether employees trust it enough to use it. That question is at the heart of World Whistleblower Day.
Exclusive: Former Docusign executive sues company for whistleblower retaliation
A former Docusign executive alleged in a federal whistleblower lawsuit that the software company constructively discharged her after she blew the whistle on the company’s mishandling of sensitive data for customers, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
KPMG Australia CEO resigns over mishandling of whistleblower allegations
KPMG Australia says that CEO Andrew Yates has resigned, effective immediately, over the mishandling of whistleblower allegations. The board has appointed Stan Stavros as interim CEO of KPMG Australia, while continuing the search for a permanent successor.
Foot Locker agrees to pay SEC $148K for allegedly tying severance to future whistleblower silence
Foot Locker agreed to pay the SEC $148,000 after requiring departing employees to waive their right to seek the commission’s whistleblower awards as a condition of receiving severance.
False Claims Act enforcement themes for 2026
The U.S. Department of Justice touted a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act (FCA) recoveries in fiscal year 2025, much of that total stems from prior years’ cases and does not necessarily reflect the administration’s current enforcement direction.
FinCEN launches whistleblower portal, seeking tips on BSA and sanctions violations
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has launched a whistleblower webpage to solicit tips on fraud, money-laundering, as well as violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and U.S. sanctions.
Creating effective compliance messages for specific employee groups
As 2026 arrives, have you considered the efficacy of your compliance messaging efforts? We have all seen these compliance taglines “Speak Up!,” “See Something, Say Something,” “Ethics Matter!”
More federal whistleblowers come forward amid government layoffs
As the Trump administration continues to reduce the number of workers at multiple federal agencies, there has been a record number of whistleblowers coming forward.
SEC reportedly denying record percentage of whistleblower claims
The Securities and Exchange Commission is awarding far fewer whistleblower claims, according to Bloomberg Law, which noted the commission denied awards for the entire period between April and July, the longest stretch in the program’s history.


