The Corporate Compliance Program

By Stephen Hudspeth

Compliance programs are relatively common among very large corporations in the US. Now, they are becoming more common among multinational corporations with a significant presence in the US. Here's why.

Definition

A compliance program is a presentation on the law applicable to a corporation in a specific area directed to those employees of the corporation, both high and low level, who work in the fields in which these legal principles have particular applicability. The program is normally presented both orally and in writing. The form of the written presentation is usually a pamphlet or manual which describes the key legal principles at work in the area of law in question and then gives specific illustrations of the application of those legal principles to hypothetical situations which might arise in the work environment. The oral presentations also give an opportunity for employees with questions to raise them and have them answered.