Business Controls' Global Presence Reaches 92 Countries
Business Controls, Inc., a leading provider of global hotline services and anonymous incident reporting systems, has announced its MySafe™ reporting solutions (MySafeWorkplace®, MySafeCampus™, and MySafeHospital®) are now delivered in over 92 countries. Over a million individuals at 22,000 client locations worldwide have access to one or more of these reporting systems.
 "When we began developing these products ten years ago I would have never imagined the global reach that they have today," said Eugene Ferraro, CEO and Founder. "When we recently highlighted the countries we deliver services it opened our eyes to the impact we've had around the world. It is very satisfying to know we are accommodating our client's international requirements," Ferraro added.
From a Microsoft .NET platform, the MySafe™ reporting solutions deliver fast, economic risk mitigation solutions in 170 different languages. These global hotlines allow individuals with knowledge of potential or existing problems to anonymously report them without fear of retaliation or reprisal, anytime from anywhere in the world. Reports can be submitted via a secure website or a toll-free number where live call-takers are available 24/7/365.
As a leading SaaS (Software as a Service) provider Business Controls utilizes its award-winning technology and patent-pending Business Intelligence (BI) gathering methodology to deliver these solutions via the Internet. Instantly, upon receipt, critical information is distributed to pre-designated recipients within the client organization. This reduces liability by properly escalating complaints or issues to precisely the correct party, and also eliminates the use of an intermediary or the potential for mishandling.
Enhancing its value, the MySafe™ reporting solutions include case management capabilities and a very robust metrics reporting tool, called MySafeDashboard. Using MySafeDashboard administrators can identify trends, pinpoint hotspots or problem locations and produce charts, graphs and analytical reports with little more than a mouse click. Client administrators can also prioritize incident reports, communicate with reporting parties via an anonymous and secure message board, and distribute incident reports outside of their organization when necessary. All three systems are Safe Harbor certified and compliant with numerous international privacy requirements including the CNIL, J-Sox, and the German Data Protect Act. To date, Business Controls has received and distributed over 45,000 reports using its technology.
Only One in Three Report Stalking
Whether they are obsessed fans fixating on celebrities or former romantic partners, stalkers are rarely reported. According to a Justice Department study released last month, only one in three cases are ever reported to the authorities. The report's authors claim their study is the first in-depth federal look at the prevalence of stalking, which is a crime in all 50 states. While many people tend to associate stalking with the pursuit of celebrities, researchers found that 3.4 million people were subjected to stalking, defined as a course of conduct that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Women were more often the victims than men. And 11 percent, about 374,000 people, had been stalked for five or more years.
Three-quarters of victims know their stalker, whether it is a current or former friend, roommate or neighbor, the study found. Experts state that stalkers want to make their victims fearful. Experts also say only a small number of stalking incidents reach the courts because cases are often difficult to compile. There is often no physical evidence linking a stalker to the victim and in many instances, victims are too embarrassed to come forward. In the Justice Department study, the most common reasons for respondents' not telling the police they were being stalked was that they felt it was a personal matter or they did not think the police would think it was important.
"Stalking is treated like domestic violence was 20 or 25 years ago," said Mary Lou Leary, executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime and a former federal prosecutor. Many victims initially refuse to believe, or accept, that a former partner or someone they befriended has singled them out for retaliation. It is a shock for others when a stranger begins to constantly annoy or follow them. "Many people told us they were uneasy, felt creeped out or scared," said Katrina Baum, a Bureau of Justice Statistics researcher and an author of the study. "There's a reluctance to label the behavior because it's too frightening. At some point the behavior can escalate to where it can't be ignored."
Best advice if you believe you are the victim of a stalker: Report your concerns to the authorities early; avoid routine behavior; obtain a protective order as soon as possible; and obtain community support and professional assistance.
The Employee Free Choice Act is Anything But
The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA was introduced in Congress on March 10, 2009. The intent of the legislation is to amend the National Labor Relations Act and require the NLRB to certify a union as the representative of employees if a majority of employees during an organizing effort sign authorization cards. But upon close examination there is nothing free about it. The proposed law would also allow parties that are unable to strike agreement on a contract within 90 days to refer the dispute to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services. If the FMCS is unable to mediate an initial agreement within 30 days, the contract would be referred to binding arbitration.
The sponsors of the EFCA legislation, Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), claim shock that more employees do not support their bill. However, even longtime Democrats like former presidential candidate George McGovern seem to think the bill may not be fair. As recently as March 24, 2009, Senator Arlen Spector, then a Republican (now a Democrat) said he would not support the EFCA in the current legislative session. Senator Spector, citing the current economic environment said, "the problems of the recession make this a particularly bad time to enact Employees Free Choice legislation. Employers understandably complain that adding a burden would result in further job losses. If efforts are unsuccessful to give Labor sufficient bargaining power through amendments to the NLRA, then I would be willing to reconsider Employees' Free Choice legislation when the economy returns to normalcy."
Why such opposition? Most reasonable people fear the bill, if enacted, would permit the coercion and intimidation of employees to support the union. "Not only would the balloting no longer be secret, but the NLRB would no longer be permitted to monitor the effort or confirm the results. Every aspect of the process would be left to the organizing union's sponsors," said one insider. Interesting observation and tends to beg the question, why wouldn't union organizers want balloting to remain secret and to who's benefit would it be to have a union representative watch over the shoulder of an employee as he or she voted?
Tip: Interested in knowing what's going on around the world? Now you can find your favorite news paper online at the new Newseum's front page website. Go to: http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default.asp and see for yourself.
People are Still the Problem
According to Deloitte's sixth annual Global Security Survey, people remain the most serious threat to the protection of privacy. The report revealed that while people continue to be an organization's greatest asset, they are its greatest worry as well. What has changed is the environment. If there was ever an environment more likely to facilitate an organization's people being nervous, fearful, angry or disgruntled, this is it. "To state that security vigilance is even more important at a time like this is an understatement," says the report.
Deloitte's survey, drawn from some of the largest financial companies around the globe, focuses on governance, investment, risk, use of security technologies, quality of operations, and privacy. While the report is the bearer of a great deal of bad news, it includes some good news as well—external breaches have declined sharply over the past year. On the other hand—fewer companies report they have the commitment and funding to address regulatory compliance.
In terms of risk, specifically information systems failure, people are identified as the most significant threat. "Human error [was] overwhelmingly stated as the greatest weakness [in 2008] (86%), followed by technology (a distant 63%)," the report states. It attributes the rising risk to increased adoption of new technologies, social networking and human complacency.
In 2008, data breaches caused by human error declined, the Identity Theft Resource Center recently reported. Nonetheless, such breaches accounted for 35.2% of incidents with reported causes. External breaches arising from viruses and worms affected 15% of respondents in 2008 and 43% in 2007; external breaches arising from e-mail attacks affected 24% of respondents in 2008 and 57% in 2007; breaches arising from phishing/pharming affected 7% in 2008 and 38% in 2007.
Only 20% of respondents said they hadn't been affected by a breach arising from an external attack; only 30% said they had not been affected by a breach through an internal attack. Viruses and worms also led the list among causes for internal breaches, affecting 11% of respondents.
Quote of the Month
"Leave nothing for tomorrow which can be done today"
–Abraham Lincoln
ASIS International and SHRM to Jointly Develop Workplace Violence Standard
 ASIS International and Society for Human Resource Management have joined forces to develop the first American National Standards Institute workplace violence prevention and intervention standard. Both organizations are ANSI accredited Standards Development Organizations and will collaborate in the development of the new standard. The effort will in large part be based on the ASIS Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Guideline published in 2005.
 The intent of this standard is to provide information and practical methods that will enable an organization to develop an effective and informed approach to prevention and intervention. The Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention standard will provide an overview of general policies, processes and protocols that organizations can adopt to help prevent threatening behavior and violence affecting the workplace. The standard will present practical definitions of workplace violence that will include a continuum of problematic behavior, and will classify incidents based on the relationship between a perpetrator and a victim. It will also outline security prevention and intervention strategies as well as procedures for detecting, investigating, managing and addressing threatening behavior or violent episodes that occur in a workplace.
Driving the development process on behalf of ASIS International will be the ASIS Commission on Standards and Guidelines, of which Business Controls, Inc., CEO, Eugene F. Ferraro, CPP, CFE, PCI is a member. According to Mr. Ferraro, the Commission has asked security personnel, human resources, legal counsel, business owners and executive-level managers, occupational safety and health personnel, union leaders, employee assistance programs, law enforcement, clinicians and service providers in the mental health field, insurers and practitioners who specialize in threat management and violence prevention to participate in the standard's development. "The development effort will include the contribution of more than a hundred professionals with experience in the field and study of workplace violence," Ferraro told BCInsights. "ASIS and SHRM will establish a technical committee comprised of users/managers, producer/service providers and other interested parties to develop the WVPI Standard. Once a draft is completed, it will be released for public comment, " he said.
For more information, visit the ASIS International website at www.ASISOnline.org or contact, eferraro@BusinessControls.com.
Look Who's Paying Taxes Now
High-incomers are still shouldering the lion's share of America's tax burden. The top 1 percent of filers, those making more than $328,000 a year, paid 36.9% of all income taxes collected. Those making more than $137,000 composed the top 5% of filers, and paid 57% of the tax burden. The bottom 50% of filers paid only 3.3% of the total tax collected. The lowest income earners actually had a negative income tax rate…due largely to credit refunds for income and payroll taxes collected by their employers.
Source: The Kiplinger Tax Letter.
Recruiting & Hiring; How to Hire the Best and Avoid Future Litigation
On June 26, 2009 Business Controls and Ireland Stapleton will host a half-day training on Recruiting & Hiring; How to Hire the Best and Avoid Future Litigation. The training event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in the Denver Tech Center.
In this highly informative and fast-paced session, participants will discover the tools needed to hire the right people and ultimately minimize their organization's risk of employee problems and litigation. This interactive half-day event will utilize real world scenarios to highlight the legal aspects and potential ramifications associated with recruiting, applicant screening, and interviewing. The training has 4 HRCI & CLE credits pending.
Business Controls' CEO, Eugene F. Ferraro, CPP, CFE, PCI and Ireland Stapleton's Laura J. Hazen, Esq., will be the facilitators. Registration is $229 ($199 if registered by June 8, 2009!). Registration includes continental breakfast, a sample employment application and drug testing policy, new hire checklists, tips and other valuable tools.
Register at www.BusinessControlsStore.com or contact Business Controls at 800-650-7005.
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