Whistleblowing

Since 17 December 2023, not only large companies, but also businesses with operations in the EU with 50 or more employees have needed to comply with the Whistleblowers Directive. The directive introduces greater protection for employees who report breaches of EU law, and places a duty on organisations to implement a system for reporting and following up on reports of breaches. On this page we look at what businesses need to do to get up to speed.

Employers may need to conduct investigations on a whole range of issues, such as bullying, discrimination, anti-competitive practices or even commercial fraud and corruption. They may also be used to deal with a suspected violation of internal policies or ethical standards. The objectives of an investigation, the way it’s carried out and the outcome will depend on the facts of the case, but there are some guidelines that are worth considering, whatever the circumstances. Take a look at our Dos and Don’ts below.