Government enforcement actions that rely on whistleblowers can result in penalties as much as $92 million greater and prison sentences up to 27 months longer than if no whisteblower was involved. https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/insights/publications/2015/01/5-steps-to-encourage-internal-whistleblowing/

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1. Establish tone at the top.
Establish and communicate the
organization’s support for ethical
behavior and internal disclosures.
2. Put clear procedures in place.
The process of reporting, and the
way the company investigates such
reports, should be set out clearly.
3. Ensure timely response.
Set out and adhere to a clear, efficient
timeframe in the investigation.
4. Implement internal controls.
Internal controls are key in detecting
fraud: failure to follow such controls is
a red flag that something or someone
has gone astray.
5. Establish an anti-retaliation policy.
Many people do not report
wrongdoing because they fear
retaliation. Encourage employees
to speak up via clear, protective
anti-retaliation policies.
Did you know that only 8 percent of employees report wrongdoing externally
without first reporting it internally?
Yet, when a frustrated whistleblower does turn to government regulators,
the outcome can be harsh. Government enforcement actions that rely on
whistleblowers can result in penalties as much as $92 million greater and prison
sentences up to 27 months longer than if no whistleblower was involved.
To avoid these harsh consequences, the wise organization encourages a culture in
which internal whistleblowing is accepted. Here are five steps to consider.
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5 STEPS TO ENCOURAGE
INTERNAL WHISTLEBLOWING
For more information, please contact Savaria B. Harris.
Learn more about encouraging internal whistleblowing