Importance and Benefits of Whistleblowing Policy in a Business Organisation

1. Open door culture: Whistle blowing policy is successful only when it has an open door culture. Any employee can raise their concern against any wrongdoing, illegal activities or malpractices without any fear. The senior management must put on best efforts to build an ethical and open door culture in an organization. When any concern is raised by an employee in open door culture, it removes the negativity attached to whistleblowing

2. Right Training: Employees should be trained to know their rights and duties on whistleblowing and its procedure.  The Employee must be trained and educate enough of various ways and aspect of whistle blowing so that they can raise concern freely against any wrong doing happening in an organization. A company should have policies to protect whistleblower and the same should be well communicated to employee as well. Proper training should be imparted to employees so that they can raise concern with their immediate manager or HOD and never hesitate to blow the whistle. They should be trained to differentiate between grievance and whistle blowing. 

3. Involvement of all stakeholders: All the stakeholders, vendors, contractors, suppliers etc. should be given visibility on the whistle blower policy. They must be clearly aware of the whistleblowing procedure to raise any concern. The policy should be made available on the company's website.

4. Need to Act:  Whistle blowing policy and procedure are not something that is just for listening. Appropriate action should be taken once the compliant received. There is the most critical gap between a problem raised by an employee and the time taken to act. This gap should be reduced to make whistleblowing policy successful.  

5. Commitment:  Organization should show commitment towards building a culture wherein every effort is made to make the whistleblowing policy on ethical grounds and ensure promoting it as and required.

6. Communication: Official communication can be done through inter office memos, newsletters and presentation to promote whistleblowing within the employee of the company.

7. Proper investigation and follow up: Whistle blowing concern should be taken care properly. In case of any delay the concern loses its meaning and the organization loses its credibility. The Managers therefore should take prompt action and report to Management or The Audit Committee (if any). 

Benefits of whistleblowing: