Welcome to the NAVEX Whistleblowing Center™ – your go-to place for mastering whistleblowing compliance. From the latest thought leadership to practical guidelines on laws and program requirements, if you want to know more about whistleblowing, you’re in the right place.
Let’s break it down: whistleblowing is when someone raises a concern about wrongdoing they’ve seen or heard of happening at work. Think fraud, health and safety issues, harassment, along with a host of other behaviors that just don’t seem ethical. A whistleblower is a person who speaks up to highlight the problem, usually with the intention of getting it fixed.
Here’s why whistleblowing matters:
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Whistleblower protection laws by country
Whistleblower protection laws are on the rise globally. Whether your company operates in a specific location or across multiple countries, understanding these laws is critical for ensuring whistleblowing compliance and creating a culture where your people feel safe to raise concerns.
French Whistleblower Protection Law
Whistleblower protection legislation in France – LOI n° 2022-401 du 21 mars 2022 visant à améliorer la protection des lanceurs d’alerte – protects individuals who report violations of national, EU or French law or threats to the public interest. This legislation reinforces existing protections within French law, adding reputational harm and financial loss from a report made to the list of prohibited retaliatory behaviors already in force.
German Whistleblower Protection Act
Germany’s Whistleblower Protection Act, the Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz (also known as HinSchG), requires all organizations with 50+ employees to provide internal whistleblowing channels. Included protections cover reporters of a range of violations of national, EU and national law. It also protects individuals, such as witnesses, who might be affected by a report made.
Spanish Whistleblowing Protection Law
The Spanish whistleblower protection law, also known as Law 2/2023, states that businesses not providing an internal whistleblowing system commit a ‘very serious infraction’ of legal obligations. Penalties for non-compliance are steep, with the law outlining penalties for entity-level or individual actions that limit whistleblowers’ rights or that constitute retaliation against the reporter.
Swedish Whistleblowing Protection Act
The Swedish Whistleblower Act – Genomförande av visselblåsardirektive – builds on preexisting legislation protecting whistleblowers who report misconduct and corruption from retaliation. As one of the earliest EU members to transpose the EU legislation into law, it also goes beyond the minimum protection standards, inclusive of legal entities owned by a whistleblower and people who may aid them as well as employees, consultants and contractors who submit a report.
Belgian Whistleblowing Protection Law
Belgium’s Whistleblower Act broadly aligns to the EU Directive framework, but it also expands its focus on specific reported issues – such as social fraud and tax – and highlights the value of an open culture that values reporting. Belgium is unique amongst EU members in its support for whistleblowers, including welfare and practical support in addition to financial aid in legal proceedings.
Whistleblowing compliance around the world
The EU Whistleblower Protection Directive sets a high standard for protecting whistleblowers who report breaches of EU law. Since the Directive came into force, many countries have adopted protections built on whistleblowing compliance standards set by this EU legislation. To ensure your company meets the legal requirements for protecting whistleblowers and providing a whistleblowing reporting program, check out our guides to other country transpositions below.
During this informative session, Jan Stappers, our regulatory expert, will be accompanied by special guest Karolina Kanclerz, partner at PCS Littler. Together, they will delve deeper into the transposition of the EU Whistleblower directive in Europe and address some of the most frequently asked questions.
Learn the ins and outs of building a speak-up culture and protecting your business with our free, on-demand whistleblowing compliance webinars.
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Don’t just take our word for it. See how NAVEX One whistleblowing and incident management solutions have made whistleblowing compliance easier for organizations around the world.
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The external inputs to the hotline – it shows to the board that the community is diverse and cares about what we do.
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Get up to speed on everything from recent whistleblower protection laws to benchmark data on how similar companies in your industry are performing.
The Poland transposition of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive is now in force. This means it has completed the transposition of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive’s requirements for protecting whistleblowers who report violations of European and national laws.
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The Estonia transposition of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive is now in force. This means it has completed the transposition of the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive’s requirements for protecting whistleblowers who report violations of European and national laws.
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Learn more about the EU Whistleblower Directive, and ensure your organization has what it needs to obtain and maintain compliance.
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Understanding and trusting the whistleblowing process can transform a worry into positive workplace action.
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Encouraging employees to speak up when they have an ethics and compliance concern creates a stronger workplace - but only if you meet them with a response.
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Learn all about whistleblowing hotlines - and why they’re crucial tools for promoting ethical standards and protecting your business’ reputation
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Looking for a whistleblowing service provider? Unsure where to start? Save time with our guide - discover the questions to ask before buying.
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Our collection of whistleblowing solutions offer options to fit your company size, maturity and regulatory needs.
Ensure regulatory compliance, engage your people and build trust in your reputation with NAVEX reporting and whistleblowing solutions.
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Start up or scale a speak-up program in days, not months, with NAVEX WhistleB.
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Prove you value what your people have to say with NAVEX One EthicsPoint whistleblowing and incident management software.
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Flag new whistleblowing regulations and pinpoint what you need to do to keep your whistleblowing program compliant.
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Dealing with whistleblowing reports and investigations can be complex. Whether you’re new to the process or looking for ways to improve your existing program, here’s what you need to know:
A whistleblowing system is a platform that allows employees (and sometimes third parties) to confidentially report concerns about misconduct. It helps you detect and address issues early on, protecting your company from risks and fostering a speak-up culture.
Worldwide, many organizations of a particular size, industry or operating location must have a whistleblowing system and process in place to meet regulatory requirements.
Many countries, especially those in the EU, have legislation mandating a whistleblowing process for employees to report misconduct. To stay in compliance with these laws, a whistleblowing system is the safest way to handle whistleblowing in the workplace.
A system helps create a transparent and accountable workplace where everyone can tell you if something has, or is suspected to have, gone wrong, while keeping you aligned with evolving requirements.
Vitally, a whistleblowing system that covers all your operations helps you detect misconduct and patterns of unethical behavior early, potentially saving you from legal and financial troubles and major damage to your reputation.
You should choose a system that prioritizes security, makes it clear to the reporter how their report and data are stored, and offers anonymous reporting options. Clear communication about your commitment to confidentiality in your awareness resources (like posters, bulletins and training) is also key to building trust.
Your policy should clearly define what behaviors are considered misconduct, how to submit a report and the process of investigation after a report is made by or about an individual. It should also emphasize your commitment to protecting whistleblowers from retaliation, clarify what behaviors constitute retaliation, and outline the actions taken if someone retaliates against a reporter.
Each report should be taken seriously and investigated promptly and fairly. Document all steps of the investigation process and communicate with the reporter on actions taken (while respecting the confidentiality of all parties involved). A whistleblowing and incident management system able to assist with automated workflows can help guide the process, taking pressure off keeping track of progress manually and consolidating investigation data.
Regularly communicate your whistleblowing policy and reporting channels to your people. Emphasize the importance of speaking up and lead by example in creating an open workplace culture. If a report has had a significant impact on reducing risk for the business, communicate what the positive impact has been in actions wherever possible. Whistleblowers often speak up to make a difference, so showing the positive impact of reports is the best way to encourage open communication.
Yes! It’s important to communicate with the whistleblower to acknowledge their report, update them on the investigation progress and thank them for coming forward. This helps build trust and encourages future reporting, as well as helping you meet the response time requirements of legislation such as the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive.
Challenges can include ensuring confidentiality, managing investigations fairly and protecting whistleblowers from retaliation. Having a clear process and the right tools can help mitigate these challenges.
Track key metrics like the number of reports received, the types of issues reported and investigation outcomes. This data can help you identify trends, assess program effectiveness and make necessary adjustments – as well as collect necessary data for board meetings and audits.
Whistleblower protection laws vary by country and industry. It’s crucial to understand and comply with the regulations that apply to your organization to avoid legal and financial penalties. Take a look at our whistleblower protection laws by country for information on requirements – or contact your legal counsel for guidance on what to look for in your region’s legislation for whistleblowing compliance.
A dedicated whistleblowing and incident management system can give you peace of mind around meeting regulatory requirements around whistleblower protections.
No matter your size or location, we’ve got a range of whistleblowing compliance solutions to meet your needs.
Let us help you navigate whistleblowing compliance and empower your employees to speak up. Take the next step in your whistleblowing program journey – reach out today!