7 common myths about whistleblowers (and why you should not believe them)
Whistleblowing is a valuable, yet often underappreciated practice. While it can be difficult for employees to speak up when they suspect wrongdoing in the workplace, it is important to remember that whistleblowing can protect not only the public but also the reporting person. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings surrounding whistleblowing, including […]
Activision Blizzard will pay $35 million fine for violating whistleblower protection rule and disclosure flaws
US based Activision Blizzard, one of the world’s biggest video game companies, has been fined by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a hefty sum of $35 million. The Activision Blizzard fine settles charges for failing to maintain disclosure controls related to complaints of workplace misconduct and violating a whistleblower protection rule. Allegations of workplace […]
Whistleblowing services in light of the Meta fine – considerations to be made when choosing a whistleblowing provider
by Mathilda Kronér and Henrik Almström, Morris Law. In light of the massive GDPR fine issued by the Irish Data Protection Authority (after binding decision thereto from the European Data Protection Board) on the 22nd of May, companies should put their GDPR compliance protocols under the microscope to ensure lawful management in relation to handling personal […]
Mandatory whistleblowing in the Czech Republic from 1 August 2023 – SMES have until 15 December
The new whistleblowing law in Czechia will make whistleblowing solutions mandatory from 1 August 2023, for companies with 250 or more employees. SMEs have until 15 December 2023. In this article, Kateřina Nešpůrková and co-author Lívia Djukić from Havel & Partners will offer their insights and discuss the impact of the Czech whistleblowing law on […]
Understanding the new Whistleblowing Law in the Czech Republic: Key aspects and implications
After a delay of one and a half years, the Czech Republic recently passed a Whistleblower Protection Act to enhance the reporting of unlawful conduct and protect public interests within organisations. To gain insights into the key aspects of this new legislation, we spoke with Petr Kubíček, Territory Manager at Whistlelink. In this article, we […]
Get started with whistleblowing: What is serious employee misconduct?
Employee misconduct in the workplace is a serious issue that can have negative consequences for both the employee and the employer. Misconduct can range from minor violations such as tardiness or unprofessional behaviour to more serious offenses such as theft, harassment, or violence. Regardless of the severity, misconduct can damage the reputation of the company, […]
New Whistleblower law in Austria: A light-weight version of whistleblower protection that will not overwhelm companies
In February 2023, the Austrian Parliament approved the legislation known as “HinsweisgerberInnenschutzgesetz” to transpose the EU Whistleblowing Directive into national law. This made Austria the 17th country to implement the EU Directive. Legislative process of the whistleblower law in Austria Like most other Member States, Austria was delayed in transposing the EU Directive. An […]
New whistleblower law approved in Germany – a milestone for protection of whistleblowers
The Whistleblower Protection Act can finally enter into force in Germany, after a delay of one and a half years. On 12 May 2023, the Bundesrat approved the whistleblower law which had been renegotiated in the Mediation Committee. The compromise proposal was confirmed by the Bundestag the day before, which means transposition of the EU […]
Whistleblowing in airlines and the aviation industry
Whistleblowing is an important tool to ensure that safety and ethical standards are maintained. In recent years, there have been several high-profile cases from airlines that have highlighted the importance of whistleblowing in the aviation industry. A whistleblower working at Dublin Airport has made a protected disclosure about security at the airport Last month, Dublin […]
5 common misconceptions about the use of whistleblowing systems
Misconceptions surrounding the use of whistleblower systems are often caused by a lack of understanding of the laws, processes, and protections afforded to whistleblowers. Many people may not be familiar with the reporting process and are not aware of the protection available to them. In this article, we will address five common misconceptions about the […]
Spain becomes the 18th Member State to approve a new law on the protection of whistleblowers
Spain approved a new whistleblower law only one day after being referred to the Court of Justice. Law 2/2023 on the protection of persons who report breaches of the law and on combating corruption was published on 21 February and entered into force on 13 March 2023. With the approval of Law 2/2023, Spain became […]
The Polish whistleblower law is drawing close: 6th and final draft of the national act
Poland, along with the majority of EU member states, did not transpose the EU Directive on the protection on whistleblowers before the deadline on 17th December 2021. The first draft on the Polish whistleblower law was published in October 2021. Since then, the proposal has undergone several changes, with numerous new drafts published throughout 2022. […]
What is business ethics and how is it relevant to companies?
Business ethics is a set of moral principles that govern a company’s behaviour. This can be both with respect to its own operations and those of its staff, as well as with respect to the public and other companies in the industry. Ethical values include honesty, fairness, responsibility, and respect for others. Business ethics is […]
Transposition of the EU Whistleblowing Directive still not completed
The official deadline for all 27 EU Member States to transpose the Directive on the protection of whistleblowers was 17 December 2021. Only eight countries adopted legislation in time, and more than a year after the deadline, only 17 have passed new Whistleblower protection laws. Infringement procedures In July 2022, the European Commission initiated infringement […]
Italy has transposed the EU Directive: Whistleblowing law drafted behind closed doors
A new whistleblower law has been approved in Italy, on 9 March 2023. The Italian Government definitively approved legislation to implement the EU Directive concerning the protection of persons who report violation of Union Law. The new law will enter into force four months after its publication in the official Gazette. Italy was referred to […]
