Global compliance jungle: A multiple challenge for international companies

The globalization of markets entails this. In this era, numerous companies operate internationally with branches and locations worldwide — i.e. outside their mother country. The central challenge: A cross-border compliance strategy that is anchored in all employees. This is particularly true against the background of multi-faceted linguistic diversity. It is an important task to convey a clear compliance message in this complex environment. This is the only way to ensure that all employees understand the company's internal guidelines on the one hand and consistently follow them on the other. The better the rules are followed, the more the company's liability risks are reduced.

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Strengthening corporate culture through clear guidelines

Compliance is more than just part of risk management. It is about creating a corporate culture that is based on ethical business practices. Because compliance also stands for credibility and sustainability. The major challenge for international companies is adapting their compliance processes to global circumstances and framework conditions.

The following applies: Employees should be aware of compliance across locations. It is the task of companies to ensure this. This is best achieved with suitable communication channels and training measures to communicate compliance requirements to all employees worldwide in a transparent and uniform quality. Because compliance on paper alone is worth little; it must be promoted and lived within the company.

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Align compliance management internationally

Globally active companies should consider various aspects and levels when designing their compliance management. The following are of decisive importance:

1. Selecting appropriate communication with employees

2. Organization of compliance training with uniform quality

3. Establishing risk management

This is why training courses are ideal in an international context. The aim is to sensitize all employees to the potential effects and consequences of non-compliance with rules and standards. This is how a company can influence external perception and its own corporate reputation.

The global orientation of a company may require an adaptation of the corporate culture to international standards. In a nutshell, this means that digital training is necessary to strengthen the compliance culture on the one hand and also to promote ethical business practices.

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Linguistic diversity as a challenge

The diversity of cultures, diverse legal backgrounds and language diversity — aspects that characterize employees of companies with international locations. But this is also a major challenge when it comes to compliance training. This is because the content to be delivered must be understood by employees — both linguistically and in terms of content — in order to be implemented. This is the only way to develop a uniform compliance culture across locations.

As a result, it makes sense for international companies to have a communication and training strategy that keeps an eye on and takes into account the different languages within a company. Offering training in different languages and, if possible, reaching employees in their mother tongue can be an important success factor. How can this be achieved and what are the benefits? Read more in the white paper “Compliance in every language: The key to a consistent understanding” Or discover directly our complete digital solution for compliance training and create clarity for your employees with different language versions.

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