Lessons From KPMG Australia's Speak-Up Scandal

KPMG Australia has made repeated headlines over the last two years for an ongoing scandal involving the misuse of confidential client information, whistleblower retaliation, internal investigations gone wrong, toxic culture, and wayward leadership. In recent days, this has culminated in extraordinary organizational tumult, as KMPG Australia faces lost business, governmental investigation, leadership departures, and a massive loss of trust. In this special episode, Ethisphere Chief Strategy Officer, Erica Salmon Byrne dives into the ongoing whistleblower scandal that has enveloped KPMG Australia and unpacks what organizations can take from this to improve their speak-up culture, anti-retaliation measures, investigations processes, executive accountability, and organizational justice. For plenty of free ethics and compliance resources, especially around speak-up culture, anti-retaliation, internal investigations, psychological safety, and organizational justice , please visit the Ethisphere Resource Center at www.ethisphere.com/resources. Chapters (00:04:46) - Speak-up culture depends on the strength of its anti-retaliation efforts(00:08:04) - Addressing workplace retaliation means addressing the toxic culture that enables it(00:11:38) - The importance of thorough, honest, and fair internal investigations(00:14:54) - How to begin an enterprise-wide rehabilitation, when the issues start at the top(00:19:45) - How the scandal at KPMG Australia creates a domino effect for other companies