Why Companies Need A Whistleblowing Program

Whistleblowers have saved companies billions of Rands over the last decade which is why companies need a Whistleblowing program, however,  Whistleblowers have not always received the protection or the appreciation they deserve.

• The EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) data shows that 1 in 3 allegations that are made by whistleblowers will result in retaliation.

• The monetary benefits the EEOC recovered for individuals claiming retaliation went past the $100 million mark for the first time in 2011.

• Only 2% of whistleblowers experience retaliation in companies with programs, that have written standards, training, an in-house complaint process and resources that employees can draw upon.

These 3 statistics show that is not only important to have a whistleblowing facility in place, it is also imperative to have policies and procedures in place that dictate how whistleblowing incidents should be responded to.

Whistle Blowers (Pty) Ltd has not had a reported incident of retaliation against a whistleblower since the company was founded 15 years ago. Dedication to the protection of a whistleblower’s anonymity and the strict protocols in place, are imperative factors in our whistleblowing facility.

Usually by the time a whistleblower blows the whistle, a large amount of damage has already been done to a company which is why companies need a Whistleblowing program in place that is efficient and effective. Employees and shareholders tend to end up the ultimate losers once the investigations are complete and the dust settles. So the question is, how does an organisation create a culture that encourages employees to point out issues and report unethical or illegal practices before it becomes a serious problem?

Whistle Blowers (Pty) Ltd approaches the issue through a three-pronged tried and tested method. Our hands-on training with clients (senior management through to casual/general labourers and even including contractors), marketing material and extensively trained call centre staff, help alleviate employee tension when it comes to making the initial call. We have worked extremely hard over the last 15 years to ensure that a whistleblower can trust us. Credibility is of utmost importance when discussions take place with employees during our questions and answers sessions held during our training workshops.

Whistle Blowers (Pty) Ltd is always willing to assist and advise our clients on various policies and procedural issues, as well as implementation options that serve to ensure the success of a whistleblowing program.