Whistleblower Policy

Did you know these facts about whistleblowing?

• Wrongdoing or malpractice can include corruption, fraudulent conduct, unreasonable endangering of health and safety or environment, etc.
• A whistleblower policy is an official document that clearly defines how a company’s employees should report past or potential malpractice and how your organisation will protect a whistleblower.
• Whistleblower protection is about how you link your organisation’s mission, values, and principles with protecting the rights of a whistleblower who reports reasonable wrongdoing in good faith.

Whistleblower policy overview

This whistleblower policy covers what whistleblowing is and who the whistleblower is and provides guidelines for the professional standards required within your organisation. It deals with the standards of behaviour and procedure expected when your people are dealing with unlawful activities carried out by employees, contractors, volunteers, customers, and suppliers.

This whistleblower policy template can be adapted to meet the specific needs of your organisation. You can change as little or as much of the content as you like. Some sections may be governed by state and federal legislation. It is important that you seek your HR or legal advice, maintain this policy as legislation changes and adjust it to meet your requirements.

The target audience for this whistleblower policy

This whistleblower policy template is suitable for all your employees, contractors, and volunteers. Once you have adjusted the whistleblower policy template to meet the specific requirements of your organisation, you can deliver it to new starters at induction and as refresher training on a regular basis.

Topics covered in this whistleblower policy

The following topics are covered in this whistleblower policy:

• Defining whistleblowing, whistleblower, wrongdoing
• Whistleblower responsibility
• Whistleblower protection officer
• Whistleblower governance officer
• Protected disclosure officer
• Whistleblower investigator
• Reporting wrongdoing
• Whistleblower protection.

Duration of this whistleblower policy

This whistleblower policy will take approximately five minutes to complete.

Learning outcomes for this whistleblower policy

The following learning outcomes will be achieved on completion of this whistleblower policy:

• Understand the professional standards of behaviour and procedures that are expected.
• Recognise the types of behaviour that constitute acting with honesty and integrity.
• Understand that everyone has a responsibility to contribute to a safe, respectful, and lawful workplace.
• Recognise personal responsibility to comply with this whistleblower policy.
• Know how to report known or suspected breaches of this whistleblower policy.
• Acknowledge that the whistleblower policy does not cover every possible event or action and that caution and common sense are required.

Business outcomes for this whistleblower policy

Once all employees, contractors and volunteers have completed your whistleblower policy, the following business outcomes will be achieved for your organisation:

• Reduce the incidents of wrongdoings in your workplace.
• Mitigate the risk of legal liability associated with charges of corruption or other malpractices.
• Protect your reputation from the damage caused by incidents of wrongdoing in the workplace.
• Present a vision for professional standards in your workplace.
• Increase engagement by supporting a workplace culture that encourages employees to report misconduct or malpractice in good faith.
• Become an employer of choice.