Encouraging whistleblowing in the workplace

Whistleblowing in the workplace plays a vital role in exposing the misconduct and unethical behaviour that can put organisations, employees and the public at risk.

It’s a serious problem. According to the Governance Institute of Australia, over one-third of the largest 200 companies listed on the ASX experienced an instance of material fraud, bribery or corruption between 2018-2020.

Yet many cases go unreported due to inadequate whistleblower protections and cultures of silence.

For Australian organisations, implementing robust whistleblower programs and fostering an environment that encourages speaking up is the key to upholding integrity and mitigating serious risks. A strong whistleblower policy signals an organisation’s commitment to ethics and accountability.

Supporting whistleblowing in the workplace

Provide secure, confidential reporting channels

Whistleblowers must have access to reporting channels they can trust are truly confidential and allow anonymity if desired. This could include hotlines, online portals or mobile apps managed by independent third parties.

Confidentiality is critical, as fear of retaliation or reprisal is one of the biggest deterrents to whistleblowing. Get in touch with Report It Now® to discuss how EthicsPro® can help your organisation support whistleblowing in the workplace.

Adopt a formal whistleblower policy

Outline clear processes for how complaints are handled, investigated and resolved in a standardised manner. Include protections against victimisation and detrimental conduct toward whistleblowers as mandated by Australian laws like the Corporations Act and Fair Work Act.

Regularly reinforce this policy through communications and third-party training.

Deliver whistleblower training and awareness

Don’t assume employees understand what whistleblowing is or know the proper protocols. Provide regular training on your program, types of reportable conduct like fraud, corruption or safety violations, whistleblower rights and the organisation’s commitment to an ethical culture that values transparency.

Remember this stat: companies that don’t have anti-fraud training only discover fraud via tip-off 37% of the time, whereas companies that regularly conduct ethical training discover fraud via tips 56% of the time (2020 ACFE Report to the Nations).

Respond promptly and consistently

All whistleblower disclosures, whether seemingly minor or major, should be evaluated thoroughly and promptly by skilled and impartial personnel following fair procedures. Inconsistent responses can discourage future whistleblowers from coming forward and erode trust in the program.

Remember: Whistleblowers are legally protected from detrimental actions, including harassment, discrimination, demotion, and dismissal. Organisations that retaliate against whistleblowers can face civil liability and severe penalties.

Leverage data to drive improvements

Benchmarking is a hugely important part of process improvement. Analyse data on whistleblower report trends, allegation types, organisational areas and reporter demographics. This intelligence can reveal vulnerabilities and enable proactive measures to strengthen policies, training, controls and cultural incentives for reporting.

Get in touch with Report It Now® to discuss ethical benchmarking in your organisation.

Protect whistleblowing in the workplace

Make it clear that any form of reprisal against whistleblowers will not be tolerated. Regularly reinforce this zero-tolerance policy and take decisive action if incidents of victimisation occur. Offer access to support services if needed. Strong protections instill confidence in employees to come forward.

According to the Governance Institute, organisations with a robust whistleblower program in place were 92% more likely to uncover workplace misconduct compared to those without one. While there are challenges, the costs of inaction are far higher – diminished corporate integrity, financial losses, brand damage and potential penalties for noncompliance.

Whistleblowers provide the critical first alert system for organisational misconduct. By prioritising confidential reporting channels, consistent protocols, comprehensive training and a culture of accountability, Australian organisations can realise the full benefits of an effective whistleblower program. It protects against risks, safeguards stakeholder interests and cultivates an ethical workplace of integrity and honesty.

Get in touch

Report It Now® provides Australian businesses with the tools and expertise to cultivate ethical workplaces and properly handle whistleblower disclosures.

Our EthicsPro® solution combines a secure hotline, online and mobile reporting channels with comprehensive case management capabilities, supporting employees to confidentially report misconduct through trusted avenues, while ensuring your organisation can professionally investigate and resolve complaints.

Report It Now® also offers consulting services, whistleblower training programs and data analysis to help identify risks and drive continuous improvement of your ethics and compliance initiatives.

Empower your workforce to speak up about wrongdoing and protect your business from the costs of misconduct. Contact Report It Now® today to learn more about our whistleblower reporting solutions for Australian organisations.