What is the EU Whistleblower Directive? The EU Whistleblower
Directive is a legal act issued by the European Union that aims to strengthen the protection of whistleblowers. It was adopted on October 23, 2019 to establish a minimum standard for the protection of whistleblowers in European Union (EU) member states and requires all EU member states to implement corresponding national legal frameworks.
Who is required to comply with the Directive?
All public and private companies based in the European Union with more than 50 employees and municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants.
Who are whistleblowers?
Whistleblowers are individuals who report illegal acts or violations of EU law. They can be employees, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, volunteers, or even job applicants, among others.
What kind of wrongdoing/misbehavior can be reported?
Whistleblowers can report a wide range of problems in several areas, including but not limited to:
- Protection of privacy and personal data
- Consumer protectionViolations of company policies and procedures
- Bad financial conduct
- Money laundering and terrorist financing
- Fraud
- Network and information systems security
- Harassment or discrimination
- Safety issues (product safety and compliance, food and feed safety, transportation safety)
- Public health or animal health and welfare issues
- Environmental issues
Are there other options for me?
The Whistleblower Directive requires member states to provide an alternative external reporting channel for whistleblowers. It is always preferable to use internal reporting channels first, but keep in mind that there is always the option to escalate or switch directly to such external reporting options.
What happens after I submit a report?
Once you submit a report, we will internally issue a case number and an acknowledgement of receipt. We are obligated to provide feedback within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed three months from confirmation of receipt.
.png)
.svg)
