ETHICS PULSE #3: ARE MANDATORY WHISTLEBLOWING SYSTEMS NECESSARY ?
MANAGERS CONSIDER WHISTLEBLOWING LESS NECESSARY THAN EMPLOYEES DO
In the recent Nordic Business Ethics pulse, we wanted to know how the 4,000 respondents from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden felt about mandatory whistleblowing systems.
48 % of the respondents do believe that whistleblowing systems are mandatory. Over 30 %, however, did not have an option, and only 8 % felt that they are unnecessary. What we find most interesting – and worrying – is that the respondents in managerial positions considered the whistleblowing systems unnecessary twice as often as the employees in non-managerial positions: 17 % of top management, and 11 % of line management considered the whistleblowing systems unnecessary, whereas only 7 % of employees felt the same way. Clearly, companies that are now faced with the EU directive need training with respect to the purpose and benefits of whistleblowing. If the management does not support the idea of fostering a speak-up culture, the benefits of such system will be weak.
* Nordic Business Ethics Pulse was conducted in the end of February 2020 on 4.000 respondents by TNS Kantar, the respondents were equally distributed from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Forensic Risk Alliance is sponsoring the survey. The full 2020 results will be launched in live stream on October 1st.
