How to comply with the EU Whistleblowing Directive

A short introduction to the EU Whistleblowing Directive from our Team.

The EU Whistleblowing Directive, also known as the Directive on the protection of persons reporting on breaches of Union law, was adopted in 2019 and requires EU member states to put in place measures to protect whistleblowers from retaliation. It also sets out specific requirements for how organizations should handle whistleblower reports.

Here are some key steps organizations can take to comply with the EU Whistleblowing Directive:

1. Establish internal reporting channels: Organizations are required to set up internal channels for whistleblowers to report breaches of Union law. These channels should be easily accessible, confidential, and secure.
2. Train employees on the reporting process: Employees should be trained on how to report a breach of Union law, as well as how to identify and handle sensitive information.
3. Investigate reports promptly: Organizations must investigate all reports of breaches of Union law in a timely and impartial manner.
4. Protect whistleblowers from retaliation: Organizations must take steps to protect whistleblowers from retaliation, such as ensuring their anonymity and providing them with support.
5. Establish a follow-up process: Organizations must establish a process for following up on reports and taking appropriate action. This includes keeping whistleblowers informed of the progress of the investigation and any actions taken as a result.
6. Review and update policies and procedures: Organizations should review and update their policies and procedures on an ongoing basis to ensure they are in compliance with the EU Whistleblowing Directive.

By taking these steps, organizations can ensure they are in compliance with the EU Whistleblowing Directive and protect whistleblowers from retaliation. A well-designed and implemented whistleblowing program not only helps organizations comply with legal requirements but also helps organizations detect and prevent illegal or unethical conduct and fosters a culture of integrity and transparency.

If you want more detailed articles and specific tutorials on how to comply with this new law we have created a special guide where we try to gather all information in one place. This guide is completely free and you can find it here.

We hope you found this helpful and, as always, you are more than welcome to reach out to our team if you need help implementing a whistleblowing system in your organization.

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Team Whistlehub

whistlehub.com

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