Recent years have seen the advent of individuals publicly taking a stand against corporations with the means and incentive to destroy their careers, yet whistleblowers are winning. Sherron Watkins and Enron, Howard Wilkinson and Danske Bank, Tyler Shultz and Erika Cheung and Theranos, Frances Haugen and Facebook to name just a few. There is no shortage of explosive cases involving small, medium and large enterprises alike.
Governmental and non-governmental organisations are not exempt. While the practice is rarely without consequence, the people are rising and their voices are being heard like never before.
This golden age of whistleblowing has exposed weaknesses in the process, but it has also given rise to new initiatives like the Whistleblower Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1937) (the Directive). This legislation plays a role in driving demand for complete whistleblowing solutions. It changes the landscape in Europe by requiring businesses of 50 or more employees to implement internal reporting solutions by 2023. Whistleblowing software is the obvious answer for a significant number of employers who must become compliant. At the same time, attitudes toward speaking out as a positive aspect of work culture are not ubiquitous just yet.
It is important to understand that by implementing whistleblowing software companies can achieve several goals at once. First, organisations eliminate the need to hire or train new employees, which lowers the threshold for implementing the Directive as most providers offer instant compliance. Second, whistleblowing software offers a higher level of security and confidentiality than a telephone hotline or mailbox in a bathroom. Anyone can report from the safety of their home and whistleblowers can choose the level of anonymity they wish to maintain. Third, by employing a robust solution organisations signal to their employees that speaking up is encouraged and welcome. After all, whistleblowing software is a risk-management tool.
Through a software solution the whistleblowing process is simplified on all sides – in a system like Walor, businesses can be set up in less than five minutes and anyone with the link can submit a report. Moreover, providers place particular emphasis on data privacy and security minimising the risk of leaks for users, as well as the opportunities for malignant actors who may try to retaliate against those speaking up. The Directive also offers ample protections for whistleblowers, including in cases where the misconduct is reported directly to the press or other external bodies.
This momentous change in the landscape means that whistleblowing will become more and more commonplace in the years to come. Software providers facilitate this process by offering a simple and easy answer to a question that might seem convoluted to many, all the while working to improve conditions for whistleblowers alike. Not least, whistleblowing systems are highly customizeable, meaning that users have the freedom to choose the solution that is most right for them and their employees. The next challenge will be to work on the gaps left by the Directive, but a future where the right to speak up is ingrained in organisational culture is here.
Frederik Binow
CEO
Walor
