Cecilia Fellouse on Compliance Fatigue [Podcast]

By Adam Turteltaub

Oh, come on, we all know it: sometimes the business people get tired of all those compliance requirements. That’s okay and to be expected.  But, how do you know when it has progressed beyond the usual (and maybe healthy) resistance to full-blown exhaustion?

Cecilia Fellouse, General Manager of Compliance for Good, warns that, ironically, when the business team stops pushing back, it can be a sign of compliance fatigue. They may just be going behind your back to get what they want. Another troubling sign to watch out for is systematic escalation. Instead of addressing issues to you, they’re taking the issue straight to higher-level management.

So, what can cause compliance fatigue and these bad behaviors? She cites several factors and ways to avoid them.

1. Saying “no” too often and being perceived as operating from an ivory tower.
   Constantly denying requests without providing constructive feedback can make the compliance team seem out of touch.
2. Lack of engagement with frontline teams.
   Take the time to talk with them and learn their needs
3. Limited or lack of support from top management.
   Without their support, the job is all but impossible
4. An isolated compliance team.
   Without interaction with others, including members of the compliance community, it’s easy for the compliance team to get burned out.  You need to make the effort get out there and connect.

She also strongly advocates for taking the time to truly understand the business, not just as a whole but also on a more granular basis, down to what is done day to day.

Listen in to learn more, including some signs to watch for in the compliance team that suggests that it, too, may be suffering from compliance fatigue.

Listen now