Empowering Whistleblowers: A Guide to Enhancing Ethical Standards with SAI360 

Whistleblowers are an organization’s eyes and ears, helping uncover unethical or illegal activities that could otherwise go unnoticed. They protect the company from potential legal and reputational damage. 

National Whistleblowing Day (July 30th) is an important occasion to highlight the crucial role whistleblowers play in maintaining ethical standards and compliance within organizations.

 A Brief Global Whistleblowers History

Beyond the U.S., whistleblowing has evolved significantly, particularly with the EU’s 2019 Whistleblowing Directive mandating member states to protect individuals reporting issues like tax fraud and environmental damage. By 2024, all EU countries except Poland had implemented the directive. Yet, some, like Hungary and Italy, faced challenges in creating effective systems. Hungary’s dual systems confused the reporting process, while Italy’s new laws weakened protections compared to previous legislation. 

Historically, whistleblowers often faced retaliation and inadequate legal protection. High-profile cases, such as those in the airline industry happening now in the media, highlight the ongoing need for robust protections.  

How to Take Action

Here are four key actions companies can take to protect whistleblowers: 

• Implement robust reporting mechanisms 

• Ensure anonymity and protection 

• Support and encourage whistleblowing 

• Keep whistleblowers informed 

How SAI360 Can Help You Meet Your Goals 

We encourage businesses to invest in training and resources that empower employees to speak up against unethical practices. By leveraging SAI360’s Learning courses, companies can create a culture of integrity, safeguard their operations, and uphold the highest standards of ethical behavior. 

Our platform supports compliance managers in optimizing their whistleblower systems, ensuring employees understand when and how to report unethical behavior, and how they are protected from retaliation. 

To aid businesses in enhancing their whistleblowing processes, SAI360 offers comprehensive training on whistleblowing through our Ethics & Compliance Learning solutions including a course called Ethical Tip Whistleblowing. Our interactive training modules provide practical insights, helping employees develop the awareness needed to determine when to blow the whistle. By integrating multimedia assets that combine photos, illustrations, and text, our training materials are engaging and effective in instilling ethical habits. Courses like these are crucial for maintaining compliance and mitigating risks associated with whistleblowing. 

Learn more about our solutions for Ethics & Compliance Learning. 

 Additional whistleblowing resources from SAI360: 

• Watch our on-demand webinar with legal expert Andre Bywater from Cordery Compliance: EU Whistleblowing Directive: How, What and When? 

• Compliance Training in Action webinar: Maintaining a Safe, Ethical and Trusted Workplace when Speaking Up 

References 

• Transparency International. (2024, June 23). World Whistleblowers Day 2024: Whistleblowers’ safety is everyone’s safety. Transparency International. World Whistleblowers Day 2024: Whistleblowers’ Safety is Everyone’s Safety 

• Transparency International. (2024, June 23). Blowing the whistle to protect whistleblowers in Europe. Transparency International. Blowing the Whistle to Protect Whistleblowers in Europe 

• SAI360. (n.d.). EU Whistleblowing Directive: How, What and When. SAI360. EU Whistleblowing Directive: How, What and When