Whistleblowing best practice
If implemented correctly, external whistleblowing hotlines are one of the most successful tools for encouraging employees to report misconduct.
Many employees fear that whistleblowing may have adverse consequences - they are concerned they may not be believed, that other staff will cease to trust them, or in the worst-case scenario, that they might lose their job or promotional prospects. Consequently, employees stay silent rather than speak out.
International whistleblowing best practice
To get round these problems, companies should supplement their internal reporting structures with an external whistleblowing service which guarantees absolute anonymity for the whistleblower. Whistleblowing hotlines need to be:
- Available – whistleblowing hotlines should be available outside normal office hours, allowing employees to make calls and discuss their concerns in complete privacy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Free – there should be no cost barrier to deter would-be whistleblowers; it is important that employees recognise that their organisation supports a free and readily accessible whistleblowing service.
- Friendly – callers should not be interrogated or treated with suspicion but handled in a compassionate and professional manner by well trained staff.
- Multi-lingual – fraud or antisocial behaviour doesn't recognise national boundaries; it's important that callers are able to whistleblow in their native language.
- Secure – callers need the certainty that their concerns will only be reported to the company's authorised recipient, that their anonymity will be preserved and that no details of their complaint will be kept once the investigation process is under way.
- External – employees place greater trust in a whistleblowing service which is not part of their company or overseen by the individuals that the whistleblower may suspect are committing fraud or other anti-social behaviour.
- Anonymous – whistleblowers need to be given the option to remain anonymous.
Expolink's whistleblowing service is fully compliant with this international whistleblowing best practice.
To find out more
To learn more about Expolink's Hotline solutions, contact Expolink today by phone (24 hours): 01249 661604, email: hotline@expolink.co.uk or complete the following form:
