The EU Whistleblower Protection Directive aims at protecting and encouraging whistleblowers throughout the EU who report on misconduct in their workplace. All private and public legal entities with 50 or more employees will need to establish secure reporting channels. What can whistleblowers report on? Who can report?

1. The forthcoming EU whistleblower
protection directive

2. Highlights of the new law
✓ Safeguards the whistleblower against reprisals and encourages reporting of
breaches of EU law.
✓ Companies with 50 employees or more are obliged to set up internal reporting
channels. The law specifies requirements for internal channels (see next page).
✓ Whistleblowers are encouraged to report internally, but are protected if they
report externally, for example due to lack of internal channels or lack of feed-
back.
✓ The new law will enter into force in 2021.
© WhistleB 2019, www.whistleb.com

3. Obligations for internal whistleblowing channels,
covered by the WhistleB service
Secure channels
Channels that ensure the confidentiality of the whistleblower
and anyone mentioned in the report. The channels must prevent
access to non-authorised staff members.
✓ WhistleB system
Feedback within 7 days
Acknowledgment of receipt of the report to the whistleblower
within 7 days.
✓ WhistleB system (instant feedback)
Competence
Designation of impartial person(s) with the competence to follow
up on the reports. This includes communication with the
whistleblower to ask for further information or provide feedback.
✓ WhistleB implementation package
Follow-up
Diligent follow-up to the report, this also applies for anonymous reporting,
where the national law permits.
✓ WhistleB system
Feedback within 3 months
Feedback to the whistleblower about the follow-up to the report within 3
months.
✓ Whistleblowing policy template*
External reporting
Clear and easily accessible information regarding external reporting.
✓ Whistleblowing policy template *
Reporting options
The channels must allow for reporting in writing and/or orally, through
telephone lines or other voice messaging systems, and upon request in a
personal meeting.
✓ WhistleB system
* The updated Whistleblowing policy template will be
sent out in the next customer newsletter.© WhistleB 2019, www.whistleb.com

4. Whistleblowing trends and best practices
✓ External parties, for example suppliers and customers, are increasingly invited to
report.
→ Encouraged by the new law.
✓ Whistleblowing is considered to be a preventive tool.
→ One of the main reasons for the new law.
✓ Anonymity is key for encouraging people to report.
→ Even with stronger legal whistleblower protection, anonymity will continue to be vital.
✓ Competence for case handling is built on adding relevant expertise on a case-by-case
basis, with continued confidential handling of data.
→ Competence and confidentiality are requirements of the new law.
© WhistleB 2019, www.whistleb.com

5. More information on the new EU whistleblower protection directive :
https://whistleb.com/eu-whistleblower-protection-directive/
info@whistleb.com