Whistleblowing

The EU Directive on the Protection of Whistleblowers was introduced on 16 December, 2019. The goal of the directive was to bring an end to a confusing patchwork of whistleblower protection legislation across the EU through the introduction of a universal European standard. Currently, it has already been passed in many countries, with all EU member states working on their own implementation. The final enforcement date for companies with more than 50 employees is set at 17 December, 2023.

According to the directive, organisations must design and implement internal reporting channels to accommodate effective whistleblowing. In addition, a dedicated person or department should be appointed to handle incoming reports and follow-up accordingly.  Such reporting channels should allow reports to be made orally or in writing. The internal reporting channel has to be designed, established and operated in such a manner that it

• Provides for anonymous reporting if this is allowed under national legislation 

• Protects the identity of the reporter and parties mentioned in a report

• Is not accessible for non-authorised staff member

• Provides for diligent follow-up on the report by a designated person or department

An internal reporting channel can be a big boost for your organisation. Apart from the legislative support and mandates, it can also enable organisations to receive and act on complaints of wrongdoing or illegal activities. 

Internal reporting channels, like those that allow for whistleblowing, are often seen as a digital safe space for employees and external to voice their concerns anonymously and without fear of retribution.  This might include a wide array of topics such as bullying, illegal activities, unethical behaviour, wrongdoings or harassment in the workplace.

There are three main benefits at play

• Companies with a robust whistleblower reporting system had greater profitability and workforce productivity (as measured by Return on Assets)

• Fewer material court cases brought against the company overall and with lower settlement costs (if a court case did occur)

• Fewer external whistleblower reports to regulatory agencies and other authorities.

The Directive has already been transposed into local law in many of the EU member states. for specific information on your country, please reach out to one of our representatives via the contact form above or refer to our whitepaper.

The Directive has already been transposed into local law in many EU member states. These fines are wide ranging by country. For specific information on your country, please reach out to one of our representatives via the contact form above or refer to our whitepaper.

It is advisable to appoint a dedicated person (or more people) within the organisation that is responsible for handling whistleblowing cases. This could be someone in HR, a legal representative or even someone external.