Corporations Crack Down on Fraud Globally
According to the sixth annual Global Fraud Survey conducted by Kroll Advisory Solutions, the number of fraud cases reported globally dropped in the past year as more companies have adopted anti-corruption measures. In 2011, approximately 75% of companies reported at least one incident of fraud, compared to only 61% in 2012.
EEOC Highlights Areas of Potentially Overlooked Discrimination
Federal anti-discrimination law does not specifically state that employees and job applicants are protected from discrimination on the basis of their having experienced domestic or dating violence, sexual assault or stalking. However, according to a recent publication from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“Questions and Answers: The Application of Title VII and the ADA to Applicants or Employees Who Experience Domestic or Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, or Stalking”), discrimination on that basis may be illegal under Title VII and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The EEOC cautions that “potential employment discrimination and retaliation against these individuals may be overlooked.”
Money Service Business to Pay Huge Scam Settlement
Dallas-based money service business MoneyGram International, Inc. recently agreed to pay $100 million to settle fraud charges filed by the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) against the company for its role in mass marketing and wire-fraud schemes.
More Workers Suffering from Workplace Stress
According to recent research published in the Journal of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, the fastest-growing disease category in the 1990s was occupational stress disorder.
UK Bribery Act a High Priority for Prosecutors
Recent updated statements of policy relating to the UK Bribery Act indicate that the UK is taking the Act seriously, according to a client alert from Morrison & Foerster, which predicts that a greater number of high-profile cases will be brought under the Act in the future.
$1.5 Million HIPAA Settlement for Laptop Theft
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is taking enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule very seriously. In a recent case, a Massachusetts physician eye-and-ear group practice agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle alleged violations of the Security Rule based on an incident where a personal laptop was stolen.
Personality Tests May Be Unintentionally Discriminatory
Pre-employment personality testing is becoming increasingly popular with employers. Administering the tests online, instead of using paper and pencil, as was done in the past, has made it easier to test larger numbers of job applicants. This increase in personality testing carries with it a new risk: As the amount of data obtained from test takers grows, the ability to prove unintentional bias grows along with it.
Anti-Bullying Legislation Introduced
No state has yet passed legislation against bullying, but it appears to be only a matter of time before that occurs. New Jersey recently reintroduced an anti-bullying bill, and 21 other states have also proposed anti-bullying laws. Meanwhile, companies would be wise to start providing anti-bullying training for their employees.
False Claim Act Recoveries Set a New Record
The federal False Claims Act (FCA) penalizes people and organizations that submit false claims for payment to the government. The Act also provides incentives to whistleblowers who report the false claims. In 2012, fines and settlements in federal FCA cases and in cases involving similar state laws totaled more than $9 billion, a record-breaking amount, which was more than twice last year’s recoveries of $4 billion. Out of the 30 largest recoveries this year, 28 involved whistleblowers.
Top 10 Reasons to be Up To Date on HIPAA Training
Most organizations have been providing HIPAA training to employees for years. However, given recent regulatory and enforcement changes, here are ten reasons why now is the best time to ensure that your organization’s HIPAA training is up to date.
