Exploring Corporate Culture Disconnect

02/26/25 • 22 min

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. Are you looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this Compliance into the Weeds episode, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly review the recently released 2025 E&C Program Effectiveness Report (Report) from LRN and deeply dive into its findings of a disconnect between top management and employees on ethics and compliance.

Tom and Matt examine the significant findings of the LRN survey conducted among over 1,500 ethics and compliance professionals, which formed the basis for the 2025 Report. They emphasize the widening perception gap about corporate ethical culture between senior executives and lower-level employees and discuss the importance of transparency, consistent disciplinary measures, and engagement of frontline employees to bridge this divide. Matt and Tom also address compliance officers’ challenges in assessing their organizations’ ethical culture and suggest practical steps for fostering a more cohesive environment.

Key highlights:

Key Findings from the LRN Report
Assessing and Addressing the Perception Gap
Building Trust and Transparency
Involving Employees in Policy Design
Engaging with Employees and Building Community

Resources:

Matt in Radical Compliance

LRN 2025 E&C Program Effectiveness Report

Tom

Compliance into the Weeds was recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Key highlights:

Key Findings from the LRN Report
Assessing and Addressing the Perception Gap
Building Trust and Transparency
Involving Employees in Policy Design
Engaging with Employees and Building Community

Resources:

Matt in Radical Compliance

LRN 2025 E&C Program Effectiveness Report

Tom

Compliance into the Weeds was recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

The DOJ in Crisis

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. Are you looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this Compliance into the Weeds episode, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly review the recent astonishing developments at the Justice Department involving the indictment and subsequent attempted dismissal of charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

Tom and Matt explore the implications for corporate compliance professionals and the broader message this dysfunction sends about ethics and the role of compliance programs under the current administration. They consider the possible repercussions for future corporate enforcement, drawing important parallels between the Justice Department’s actions and the expectations for corporate compliance. They emphasize the necessity of disentailing the ethical dysfunction at the department from the practical guidelines for compliance programs. The episode critically analyzes how political maneuvers affect the justice system and corporate compliance standards.

Key highlights:

The Eric Adams Indictment
Resignations and Internal Conflict
Separating DOJ Integrity from Compliance Guidance
Tone at the Top vs. Mood at the Middle
Future of Compliance Guidelines

Resources:

Matt in Radical Compliance

Tom

Compliance into the Weeds was recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcast.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

Compliance – Who Are We?

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 Compliance into the Weeds episode, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss a recent conference Matt attended that delved into compliance and the compliance profession in the Age of Trump II.

Their discussion highlighted insights from a recent compliance panel hosted by Suffolk University Law School, featuring experts from large tech companies, a multi-state credit union, and a partner from a private law firm. The consensus among these experts is that despite the change in administration, the fundamental responsibilities and importance of compliance remain largely unchanged for organizations. Compliance is now deeply embedded in business operations, key in managing vendor risk, ensuring data protection, and upholding ethical standards.

Matt emphasizes that compliance capabilities are vital when dealing with other companies, whether they are customers or vendors. The conversation explores the convergence of vendor risk management and ethics & compliance programs and examines how organizations can sustain their integrity and manage emerging risks. Matt and Tom touch on the potential impact of new regulations, the importance of internal stakeholders in the compliance process, and the necessity of maintaining a robust risk management framework in an ever-changing regulatory environment. This episode provides valuable insights for compliance officers navigating the complexities of the modern corporate landscape.

Key highlights: