Whether you celebrated World Whistleblower Day late last month or are gearing up for National Whistleblower Appreciation Day in the U.S. on July 30, it’s a great opportunity to recognize the contribution of all types of whistleblowers—corporate, government, educational, you name it. For some folks, whistleblowing is an alienating and confusing process (even though we compliance pros try not to make it that way!), and acknowledging a whistleblowers’ courage is one of the many ways to show our gratitude. 💜
As with anyone whose journey requires courage and commitment, however, it’s important to acknowledge these efforts on an ongoing basis, not just a few days out of the year. That’s why we’ve compiled five ways for compliance departments to show their appreciation for whistleblowers and encourage whistleblowing all year long.
1. Strengthen Your Foundation
Let’s start with a story: I have a colleague who decided to take up sewing during the pandemic. She bought a fancy sewing machine, a whole kaleidoscope of thread, and a bunch of cool accessories.
She gave up after two weeks. 🧵❌
Nope. | Source: Disney’s Cinderella via Giphy.com
Did she have any prior experience with tailoring? No. She invested in this activity without first developing a foundation.
The same idea applies to your whistleblower program. You could invest in analytics services, awareness materials, and custom automation, but if you’ve neglected the basics, not even the fanciest, most expensive “solutions” will give you the results you need.
And, if you can’t be bothered with the basics, why would your employees do the tough thing and make a report?
As you probably know, Broadcat has a ton of tools available to encourage reporting, but your most important tool is a solid foundation (we’ve got something complimentary for that, too!). Make sure your helpline works the way it should; then, make sure it works the way it should in every culture represented at your org.
Once the foundation is strong, you’ll be ready to start promoting the heck outta your five-star helpline! Which leads us to the next way to show your appreciation …
2. Encourage Whistleblowing
Nothing says you appreciate someone like encouraging their behavior in others! 🤩 Highlight anonymous stories of times people spoke up, how the concern was investigated, and what action was taken to prevent this from happening again. You’ll be sure to build trust in the process AND make your whistleblowers feel valued. (Hint: Use a tool like Broadcat’s The Helpline Chronicles or the Speak-Up Snapshot to do this. If you’re wondering when or how to share these items, read the product descriptions for some ideas!)
Finally, never underestimate the power of an open-door or breakroom conversation! 🗨️ If you and your colleague end up discussing the improvements to your whistleblower program, or an investigation that just closed with a positive outcome, talk about it! Gossip spreads—it’s human nature—so when you have something good to say about your whistleblower program, don’t keep it secret. (Again, keep things professional and anonymized.)
3. Be Responsive
When a report is submitted, respond within 24 hours. And before you ask, no, that automatically generated response doesn’t count. 🤖
Not the time for robots. | Source: Lucasfilm’s Star Wars via Giphy.com
Whistleblowers are taking a huge leap of faith when they report something they find suspicious. They might worry that their careers and livelihoods are on the line. Can you imagine sitting with that kind of anxiety for three days, four days, even a week? 😰
By having the investigator respond promptly, they’re acknowledging that the whistleblower’s report is important. But take it a step further: Don’t just say “thank you, we’ll be in touch.” Make sure the investigator explains what to expect next, includes any immediate follow-up questions, and provides links to resources like an Employee Assistance Program and contact information if the whistleblower would like to follow up.
4. Investigate and Inform
Whistleblowers are taking a risk. Let them know their concern is being taken seriously, will be investigated to the extent necessary, and (when completed) that the issue has been addressed. It’s important to also clarify that the issue should not occur again and if it does, they should let compliance know as soon as possible.
Transparency builds trust. 🤝 If you’re transparent during the investigation process, your whistleblower will be more likely to be open and forthcoming if you have any additional questions for them, or if they remember something new to add to their report.
5. Build Empathy
We’re all familiar with professional development, right? We network, read books about management, attend seminars … all that stuff to be a better compliance pro.
We mean business. And we invented Post-Its. | Source: Touchstone Pictures Romy and Michele's High School Reunion via Giphy.com
But when it comes to whistleblowing, it’s not about you—it’s about the person making the report. That’s why an important part of your professional development is truly understanding who's on the other side of that helpline. 🙏
Take the time to learn about the whistleblower experience at your organization and other first-hand accounts (like Amy Block Joy, Ph.D.’s book, and this research project) to open your eyes to what it’s like to speak up. Understanding experiences, anxieties, and triumphs from their perspectives will not only make you better at handling reports, it’ll make you a better compliance pro.
And we bet any whistleblower would appreciate that.