Benchmark Reports

2025 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report

Another year of incident data exposes the true picture of what compliance programs are facing today. Navigating this requires a deeper understanding of the trends. Effective incident management is no longer optional – it’s essential.

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Key takeaways

Report

2.15M reports from 4,000+ organizations reveal key whistleblowing trends

Strengthen

46% substantiation rate - see how your case management compares

Protect

Web reporting now surpasses hotlines- adapt to shifting compliance behaviors

Stay ahead of emerging whistleblowing and compliance trends

Whistleblowing programs are evolving - reporting volumes remain at record highs, web intake has now surpassed hotlines, and case substantiation has reached its highest level ever at 46%. As workplace culture shifts and regulatory scrutiny increases, organizations must adapt to stay compliant and maintain employee trust.

The 2025 Whistleblowing and Incident Management Benchmark Report is the industry’s most comprehensive analysis, drawing from 2.15 million reports across 4,000+ organizations. This data-rich resource uncovers key trends, challenges, and benchmarks to help you measure your program’s effectiveness and prepare for the future.

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Key areas for compliance focus this year

Clear and simple- 2025 is a big year for your incident management program. Below are the biggest shifts shaping compliance right now- and what they mean for you.

Record-high reporting volumes

Reports per 100 employees remained at an all-time high for the second year in a row- signaling a lasting shift in workplace transparency.
Web reporting overtakes hotlines

For the first time, more reports were submitted via web than by phone, showing how employees prefer to speak up in today’s workplace.
Retaliation reports rise, but rarely get substantiated

Retaliation concerns are increasing, yet these reports have the lowest substantiation rate- raising questions about trust in the system.
Substantiated cases hit new highs

The median substantiation rate reached 46%, the highest ever recorded, meaning investigations are more frequently uncovering real misconduct.
Who speaks up the most? It depends on company type

New data shows private, public, education, and government organizations all have different reporting patterns—revealing how culture shapes whistleblowing.
Fast-tracked case closures may be hiding risk

Same-day case closures are rising across all report types, which may indicate cases are being referred out without full resolution.

Key metrics to measure your compliance program

What’s your number? Pull together your own KPI’s from 2024 to compare against the world (and/or your industry) averages.

Reports per 100 Employees – The industry standard for evaluating whether employees feel safe speaking up.
Substantiation Rate – A measure of how often investigations confirm reported misconduct.
Case Closure Time – The average number of days it takes to resolve a case—and why speed matters.
Anonymous vs. Named Reports – Understanding how anonymity impacts investigation outcomes.
Retaliation Reporting & Substantiation – A critical risk area where reporting is rising, but proof remains low.
Intake Channel Distribution – Hotline vs. web vs. in-person – how report sources impact case quality.
Report Outcomes – What happens after a case is closed? The growing trend of employment separation.
Benchmarking by Industry – How reporting behavior varies across different business sectors.

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How (and why) this annual whistleblowing report comes together

Data tells the real story, and this year’s report includes data from over 4,000 organizations and 2.15 million reports, making it the most comprehensive look at workplace reporting trends available.

We feel a responsibility to share the story in a way that makes sense.

Every year, our data scientists analyze millions of whistleblowing reports to help you understand how your compliance program compares to industry benchmarks. Without reliable benchmarks, it’s hard to know if your numbers are strong or if you have hidden risks.

Boards, leadership teams, and regulators expect you to measure performance- not in isolation, but against industry standards. This report helps you do just that, so you can invest resources where they matter most.

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