Confidential versus anonymous whistleblowing: Pros and cons
Confidential and anonymous whistleblowing refer to two different ways of reporting unethical or illegal practices. Both have their pros and cons, which we will look deeper into in this article. Confidential whistleblowing: The whistleblowers identity is not disclosed Confidential whistleblowing is when a whistleblower provides information about wrongdoing to a designated person or organisation, but their […]
Creating a whistleblowing channel compliant with the GDPR
Facilitating, implementing, and managing whistleblowing channels that receive reports on corruption, fraud and other types of corporate malpractice is important and will ensure a better working environment. However, whistleblowing channels in all organisations also need to be compliant with the GDPR. Whistleblowing channels and GDPR The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulates the protection of […]
Whistleblowing Directive: next step in compliance and business ethics
Approved in 2021, the EU Whistleblowing Directive is a key tool in fighting malpractice and increasing compliance in organisations. In turn, it will also protect whistleblowers in cases of fraud, corruption, and other wrongdoings in the corporate world. Companies with less than 250 employees have until December 17, 2023, to adapt to the requirements of […]
Whistleblowing: Confidential or anonymous reporting?
Confidential reporting is a term often mentioned in the context of whistleblowing. It is often used in conjunction with whistleblower protection laws, which provide legal protections for individuals who report wrongdoing. Confidentiality regarding personal data and/or the content of the whistleblower report is a way for individuals to report misconduct within an organisation, without fear […]
Why is it so important to protect whistleblowers?
On December 17, 2021, the EU Whistleblower Directive regarding the protection of persons who report violations of Union Law, entered into force. The Directive was drafted with the aim of prosecuting cases of fraud, corruption, money laundering and other serious violations of European Union Law in companies and organisations. The protection of whistleblowers is the […]
Voice Message: New Whistlelink feature for whistleblower reports
We are excited to introduce a brand-new feature for Whistlelink’s all-in-one whistleblowing system – the possibility to record voice messages when submitting a whistleblower report through your whistleblowing website. Why is Whistlelink launching Voice Message? The EU Whistleblowing Directive requires all employers included by the law, to implement secure reporting channels. These channels must […]
What is whistleblowing of greater public interest?
In the EU Directive on the protection of whistleblowers, as well as in national whistleblower laws, there is a central concept: Whistleblowing is about violations of (union) laws or misconduct of greater public interest. What this actually means is not specified in any legislation and can therefore be subject to interpretation. It is particularly difficult […]
How to communicate your internal whistleblowing solution
When you’re looking to inform employees about your internal whistleblowing solution, distinct and clear-cut communication is the key to an effective and functioning process. By informing employees of the organisation’s whistleblowing solution and reporting process, there is an increased likelihood they will use the opportunity to report potential wrongdoings. Receiving few reports (or none) from whistleblowers […]
Benefits, risks, and best practices when implementing a whistleblowing channel
New whistleblowing laws based on the EU Whistleblowing Directive, require companies to implement internal reporting channels. The objective of whistleblowing laws is to enable employees to report cases of corruption and poor corporate practices in a secure manner, without fear of retaliation. From 17 December 2021, companies with more than 250 employees are obliged to implement […]
Failure to protect Spanish whistleblowers can lead to severe penalties
The preliminary draft of what is known as the Spanish whistleblowing law includes potential penalties of up to €1,000,000 for serious failure to protect whistleblowers. To guarantee the anonymity and protection of individuals reporting about wrongdoings, implementing internal and external reporting channels will become mandatory. Scope of application and key points of the Spanish whistleblowing […]
Whistleblowing laws around the world – Part 3
While legislation around the world differs, many countries protect those who expose wrongdoing with specific whistleblower laws. In our mini-series, we will look at some of the different whistleblower laws around the world. In this article, we’ll mention a few other countries that aren’t members of the European Union. Did you miss the first two […]
Selecting a whistleblowing system: What do you need to consider?
The EU Directive puts requirements on organisations to implement internal reporting channels that are accessible to all employees. As these channels must meet certain criteria, an easier option is to use third party technology. It is important to note that not all systems will meet the requirements of the law or suit the needs of […]
Legislative process of the Spanish whistleblowing law
Guest post by César Zarate, ECIJA, on the Spanish draft Whistleblowing Law regulating the protection of people who report regulatory breaches and fight against corruption. On September 13, the Council of Ministers approved the text of the Bill for the transposition of EU Whistleblowing Directive 2019/1937. Although it effectively represents a new step for Spain […]
Whistleblowing laws around the world – Part 2
While legislation around the world differs, many countries protect those who expose wrongdoing with specific whistleblower laws. In our mini-series, we look at some of the different whistleblower laws around the world. In this article, we will take a closer look at whistleblowing laws in Asia. Did you miss the first part? You can find […]
Whistleblowing solution and compliance: How can you reduce the risks?
We can define compliance and corporate regulations as a set of good practices, monitoring procedures and control measures. The aim of such measures is to prevent misconduct and ensure proper reaction against crimes and violations of the law. Such violations could be associated with corruption, malpractice, and non-compliance with current laws and regulations. By adopting […]
