What is the importance of whistleblowing? What obligations does the Whistleblower Protection Act bring to you?

💡Whistleblowing is the reporting of unethical behaviour by a colleague, bullying of a fellow student, unfair treatment, or a criminal offence.

Whistleblowing - How to report misconduct and bring in change

Whistleblowing refers to a situation where an employee or other person in an organisation uncovers misconduct, such as corruption, a violation of the law or ethical standards. They then report this behaviour, either internally, i.e. within their organisation, or externally, i.e. to the media or authorities.

🏛️ Whistleblowing has its origins in ancient civilisations, when misconduct was reported to the Roman Senate or the English Parliament. However, the term whistleblowing itself did not come into existence until the 1970s in the USA, when it began to be used in the context of exposing corruption in the US government. 

Since then, whistleblowing has become an important tool for exposing corruption, fraud, human rights abuses, environmental threats, and other socially undesirable activities around the world. While whistleblowing is a common practice in the US, it is still finding its place in Europe and is developing gradually through new laws and directives. 👨‍⚖️

One of the most famous cases of whistleblowing is that of Edward Snowden, a former NSA employee who in 2013 revealed an extensive system of surveillance and wiretapping of US and other citizens. This report attracted worldwide attention and led to changes in the practices of US intelligence agencies.

What are the benefits of whistleblowing for employers and employees?

➡️ The employer can quickly identify problems and take action to resolve them and improve the corporate culture and reputation of the organisation. This reduces the risk of legal and financial consequences associated with unethical behaviour and increases transparency throughout the company.

➡️ For employees, whistleblower protection laws mean protection against retaliation by colleagues, for example in the form of redundancy. They also give them the opportunity to call out misconduct and help change a dysfunctional system. All of this can not only benefit the individual, but also contribute to the overall improvement of the work environment and culture in the organisation.

Who is covered by the Whistleblowing Act?

💡The mandatory entities that will have to implement whistleblowing tools include primarily all employers with at least 50 employees. Then there are banks, insurance companies, public institutions, or financial market organisations.

✅ With the NNTB module directly in your JOBka, you have the opportunity to learn about fraud and bullying at work in time, or to prevent it outright. Anonymously, online, and safely. 🙎‍♀️💁‍♂️

This module acts as an online trust box. Employees in companies can send anonymous suggestions and address anything that is not easy to talk about in person with the person in charge. It is a simple and secure tool for building an ethical company culture, dealing with whistleblowing, and uncovering bullying.

❓Have you experienced any crooked treatment or bullying in your job? Did you have the opportunity to report it or were you afraid? 

Thank you for your attention and we will see you again soon. 🙋🏻‍♀️