Whistleblowing is the process where an employee or any other individual in an organization reports an instance of wrongdoing or criminality. In the past, this was done through offline means such as a phone line, trust box, or in person, whereas these days, whistleblowing reports are often submitted through a piece of whistleblowing software, such as FaceUp.
There are a variety of standards and certifications which your organization can apply to ensure that your workplace and processes are ethical, transparent and responsible. Many require or suggest the implementation of whistleblowing system, such as the following:
Social Accountability International (SAI) is a global non-government organization that protects and advances human rights at work. The Library of Congress in the United States includes the SAI as one of the recommended organizations providing policies and guidelines for socially responsible companies.
On December 9th, 2022, the Italian Government approved a draft implementing the EU Whistleblowing Directive into national law. The draft expands the retaliation protection for whistleblowers in Italy. Previously, only employees were protected from retaliation.
Finland’s Whistleblower Act went into effect on January 1st, 2023. Private sector employers with at least 250 employees and public sector employers with 50 or more employees will be required to set up a whistleblowing channel by April 1st, 2023.
On December 15th 2022 Belgium passed a bill transposing the EU Whistleblowing Directive into national law.
Ireland is preparing to implement the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 which dramatically expands who is covered by whistleblowing laws. Additionally, the act places the burden of proof on employers in cases involving suspected retaliation against the whistleblower.
A trustee, ombudsman or delegated person. All of these terms you may encounter refer to one and the same thing, namely the so-called "competent authority", who is a key function in the internal whistleblowing system.