Snitches Enriches - ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR INTERNAL WHISTLEBLOWING SYSTEMS

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to generate a set of guidelines aimed to provide practicality for organizations looking to implement or enhance their internal whistleblowing system. The guidelines will serve as a direct response to EU-directive 2019/1937 entering into force in 2021. Given that the current research has been scattered both in terms of area of focus as well as suggested course of action, this report will present a more unified front within the overarching topic of whistleblowing system infrastructure. The report contributes to the field through identifying several essential features of such a system by assessing previous research together with what employees perceive as beneficial, which will be tested through an in-depth single case study. The data was collected through a systematic literature review as well as semi-structured interviews. The results of the analysis have outlined six major factors deemed relevant for the establishment or refinement of an internal whistleblowing system. Those factors are awareness & training, system management, system set-up & process, identity protection, retaliation and feedback & follow up. Within the context of guidelines these factors were reformed into elements that aimed to provide practical directives regarding the type of action that the interested companies should perform in order to run a successful internal whistleblowing system. Namely, the companies should establish creative methods for communication, delegate the most independent entity as executive authority, create a neat and easy to use online system, implement flexible anonymity, facilitate an accepting environment with local managers and keep the whistleblower in the loop. Through providing these guidelines, this research will contribute towards establishing a more concrete basis on which an internal whistleblowing system would not be viewed as symbolic, but rather something widely utilized.