In a corporate world increasingly attentive to social responsibility and transparency, the ethical management of information and reports of wrongdoing has become a crucial element to protect organizations and their employees. Whistleblowing, or reporting of wrongdoing or unfairness in the workplace, is a fundamental tool to promote legality and integrity in the company. However, for a whistleblowing system to be effective and safe, organizations must adopt clear policies and procedures, protecting whistleblowers and ensuring the reliability of reports. ISO 37002 certification is a concrete response to meet this need, offering companies a framework for implementing and managing a reporting system.
What is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing refers to the process by which an employee, contractor or other person external to an organization reports improper, unlawful or harmful conduct that occurs within the organization. Reports may concern fraud, corruption, violations of the law, workplace abuse, or other unethical practices.
Many countries, including those in the European Union, have legislated to ensure the protection of whistleblowers, recognizing that reporting wrongdoing is essential to prevent harm and to foster a culture of transparency. However, one of the main obstacles is the fear of retaliation, which can discourage people from making a report. An effective whistleblowing system must guarantee the anonymity and protection of the whistleblower, so that he or she can exercise his or her right without fear of repercussions.
ISO 37002 Certification: A Framework for Managing Whistleblowing
ISO 37002 certification was developed to help organizations implement and manage effective reporting systems, protecting both the whistleblowers and the integrity of the information received. It is an international standard that provides guidelines on how to structure and manage a whistleblowing system, aiming to ensure transparency, integrity and trust within the organization.
ISO 37002 covers a number of key aspects, including:
- Creating an Accessible and Secure Reporting System: The ISO 37002 guidelines help organizations design a system that allows anyone, inside or outside the organization, to report in a secure and confidential manner. This includes protecting the anonymity of the whistleblower, where necessary, and protecting against retaliation.
- Management of Reports: A key aspect of the standard is the management of reports received. Organizations must have clear and transparent procedures to review, investigate and respond to reports in a timely and effective manner, minimizing the risk of abuse or error.
- Whistleblower Protection: ISO 37002 establishes measures to protect whistleblowers from retaliation by creating an environment that encourages reporting of misconduct. This includes training and raising awareness among employees about their rights and reporting procedures.
- Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: The whistleblowing system must be subject to regular evaluation and improvement. ISO 37002 provides mechanisms to monitor the effectiveness of the system and to continuously improve it, so that it always remains up to date with regulations and organizational need
Michael Slim International’s Role in Whistleblowing Protection and Management
Companies looking to implement a whistleblowing system that complies with the guidelines of ISO 37002 can greatly benefit from the experience of experts such as Michael Slim International. As professionals in defensive investigations and handling of wrongdoing situations, we can support companies in establishing secure reporting systems and investigating reports received.
In particular, Michael Slim International offers advice on the design and implementation of whistleblowing systems, helping organizations to properly manage reports, protect whistleblowers and respond appropriately to the issues raised. Our experience in defensive investigations also allows us to provide support in the analysis of reports, ensuring they are conducted fairly and in compliance with regulations.
Michael Slim International’s Contribution to PECB Work
In our efforts to promote a healthy and transparent corporate culture, we were honored to contribute to a co-authored article for PECB, a leading global certification body. The article, which focuses on the importance of ISO 37002 certification and whistleblower protection, highlights best practices for implementing an effective and secure reporting system. This contribution provided insight into the critical role that ISO 37002 certification plays in ethically managing whistleblowing and improving corporate policies related to transparency and accountability.
You can read the full article on PECB at the following link.
https://pecb.com/whitepaper/iso-370022021-whistleblowing-management-systems
Conclusion
Whistleblowing is an essential element of ensuring transparency and integrity in an organization, but to be effective it must be managed in a safe and secure manner. ISO 37002 certification provides a robust framework for creating and managing reporting systems that protect whistleblower rights and promote legality. Michael Slim International, with its experience in defensive investigations, is ready to support companies in achieving compliance with the ISO 37002 standard, ensuring the ethical and secure management of reports.
