Question- Whistle-blower, who reports corruption and illegal activities, wrong doing and misconduct to the concerned authorities, runs the risk of being exposed to grave danger, physical harm and victimisation by vested interests, accused persons and his team. What policy measures would you suggest to strengthen protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle-blower?
answer-
A whistle-blower is a person who reports corruption, illegal activities, wrongdoing, or misconduct to the concerned authorities, in the public interest or for the protection of shareholders' interests. A whistle-blower may be an employee, contractor, shareholder, vendor, or any other person who has access to information or evidence of such malpractices within an organization. A whistle-blower may face various risks and challenges, such as grave danger, physical harm, victimization, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or termination by the vested interests, accused persons, or their team.
Therefore, it is essential to have a strong protection mechanism to safeguard the whistle-blower from such adverse consequences and to encourage more people to come forward and report any unethical or illegal practices that they witness or become aware of. Some of the policy measures that can be suggested to strengthen the protection mechanism for whistle-blowers are:
Establishing a clear and comprehensive whistle-blower policy that defines the scope, objectives, procedures, roles, and responsibilities of whistle-blowing. The policy should also specify the types of issues that can be reported, the channels and modes of reporting, the authorities and agencies that can receive and investigate the reports, the timelines and processes for resolution, and the remedies and sanctions for violations.
Providing adequate safeguards for the confidentiality and anonymity of the whistle-blower, as far as possible. The policy should ensure that the identity and information of the whistle-blower are protected from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. The policy should also provide options for anonymous reporting or reporting through third parties or intermediaries, such as hotlines, portals, auditors, etc., if the whistle-blower prefers so.
Prohibiting any form of retaliation or discrimination against the whistle-blower, such as demotion, dismissal, reduction of hours, denial of benefits, threats, harassment, intimidation, violence, etc. The policy should also provide legal protection and immunity for the whistle-blower from any civil or criminal liability or action that may arise from their reporting. The policy should also provide mechanisms for reporting and redressing any retaliation or discrimination that the whistle-blower may face.
Providing incentives and rewards for the whistle-blower, such as recognition, appreciation, promotion, bonus, compensation, etc., depending on the nature and impact of their reporting. The policy should also provide support and assistance for the whistle-blower, such as counseling, legal aid, medical care, relocation, etc., if they need it due to their reporting.
Ensuring accountability and transparency in the handling and resolution of the reports made by the whistle-blower. The policy should ensure that the reports are received, acknowledged, investigated, and resolved in a timely, fair, impartial, and effective manner. The policy should also ensure that the whistle-blower is informed and updated about the status and outcome of their report, and that they have access to appeal or review mechanisms if they are not satisfied with the resolution.
Promoting a culture of ethics and integrity in the organisation that encourages and supports whistle-blowing as a positive and responsible act. The policy should ensure that the leadership and management of the organization are committed to upholding and enforcing the whistle-blower policy, and that they set an example of ethical and lawful conduct. The policy should also ensure that all stakeholders of the organization are aware and educated about the whistle-blower policy, its benefits, its procedures, its protections, its incentives, its responsibilities, etc..
Therefore, these are some of the policy measures that can be suggested to strengthen the protection mechanism for whistle-blowers. These measures can help to create a safe, secure, and supportive environment for whistle-blowers to report any corruption, illegal activities, wrongdoing, or misconduct that they observe or experience in their organization, without fear of reprisal or harm.These measures can also help to enhance the ethical, moral, and business standards in the organization, and to build a lasting and strong culture of corporate governance within it.