The whistleblower protection laws in the European Union are governed by Directive (EU) 2019/1937, adopted on October 23, 2019, focusing on safeguarding individuals who report violations of EU law.
Article 26 of the Directive extended the deadline for private sector enterprises with 50 to 249 employees to comply with national laws and regulations in alignment with the Directive until December 17, 2023.
What is the Purpose of the EU Whistleblowing Directive?
The EU Whistleblowing Directive aims to prevent illegal activities across EU Member States, enhance the whistleblowing process, and protect employees. Its overarching purpose is to establish a uniform approach to whistleblowing throughout Europe, ultimately safeguarding workers across the continent in cases of organizational misconduct.
What Is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is the act of reporting organisational misconduct or wrongdoing. A whistleblower is an individual who exposes or reports illegal, unethical, or improper activities within an organization.
Some of the most common examples of whistleblowing include:
Financial misconduct
Workplace harassment and mobbing
Safety violations
Corruption
Environmental concerns
Data breaches
Non-compliance
Unethical behaviour
Retaliation
… and more
For companies operating within the EU, establishing a secure system for reporting misconduct is not just important but essential to comply with the directive's standards.
We offer a solution for your team. Safe Speak is the new feature in our case management product, PeopleDesk. It allows your employees to create a fully anonymous case.
Safe Speak comply with EU Whistleblower Directive
Implementing the Safe Speak feature will support the EU Whistleblower Directive, critically important in today's environment for fostering a corporate culture that values transparency and accountability.
Safe Speak by PeopleForce complies with the directive as it meets the following points:
The reporter remains completely anonymous
Only authorized team members designated by the company can access the reports
A case manager can see the date of the reporting and respond easily. Acknowledgment of the case typically occurs within 7 days, and a response to the reporter is expected within 3 months.
The reporter can comment on the case and add attachments to edit it.
Safe Speak is the tool for written reports only.