News and updates
New implementing acts, guidelines and positions of supervisory authorities — and what they mean in practice.
Informing workers about the reporting arrangement abroad: what is different?
If you have offices in multiple EU countries, the way and language in which you must inform employees about the reporting channel varies by country. This article outlines the main differences.
Read more →Can I inform employees about the reporting procedure myself?
You may inform employees about the reporting channel yourself; the law does not prescribe a fixed form, but it does require that everyone knows the procedure and understands how and where to report.
Read more →Does anything change this year regarding informing employees about the reporting procedure?
The core obligation to inform employees about the reporting channel remains unchanged this year, but there are developments that may influence what and how you communicate.
Read more →The most common mistake when closing and recording a report
Many organizations close a report verbally and fail to document the supporting information. This makes it difficult to demonstrate that action was taken carefully and on time.
Read more →What documents do you need to enable anonymous reporting?
An overview of the documents needed to truly enable anonymous reporting, with special attention to the detail most often overlooked in this area: how anonymity is technically and organizationally safeguarded.
Read more →How long does it take to close a report?
There is no separate statutory deadline for closing a report, but the closure falls within the three-month period for providing feedback. This article shows where the processing time typically gets held up in practice.
Read more →What does the process of gaining Works Council approval cost?
There is no fixed fee for the approval procedure for a reporting scheme: costs depend on internal time, any external guidance, and whether disagreement arises about the content.
Read more →Does the whistleblowing obligation apply to financial undertakings with fewer than 50 employees?
For part of the financial sector, the whistleblowing obligation applies even with fewer than fifty employees. This explains where this comes from and how you can verify this for your organisation.
Read more →What constitutes misconduct in the workplace?
Misconduct in the workplace is different from a breach: this article explains what it includes and which route a report follows.
Read more →What happens if I don't protect the identity of a reporter?
If the identity of a reporter is not properly shielded, it can lead to loss of trust, a decrease in reports, and possible liability. We set out the risks in a straightforward manner.
Read more →Who may handle reports: what is different abroad?
The European Directive sets minimum requirements for who may handle reports, but each EU country implements this in its own way. For employers with operations in multiple countries, this means that the rules may differ per location.
Read more →Can I arrange the works council consent myself?
You can proceed through the consent process with the works council yourself; the article shows which steps that requires and when external support makes sense.
Read more →Is there any change this year in who may handle reports?
The core rule for an independent and impartial handler remains the same, but how each country applies it nationally can be tightened. This article explains what does and does not change.
Read more →The most common mistake in the acknowledgement of receipt within seven days
Many handlers confuse the statutory acknowledgement of receipt with an assessment of the report. This is the most common mistake, and here's how to avoid it.
Read more →What documents do you need to appoint an impartial person to handle reports?
An overview of the documents required to formally designate the person who will handle reports of misconduct or undesired conduct, with special attention to the point where things most often go wrong: impartiality.
Read more →How long does it take to set up a whistleblower reporting channel?
From decision to a functioning reporting channel: an overview of the steps that take time, an indication of the timeline and the points at which the process is delayed in practice.
Read more →What does it cost to inform employees about the reporting scheme?
An overview of the cost items involved in informing employees about the reporting channel, from a one-time information kit to recurring internal hours.
Read more →Does the whistleblowing obligation apply to municipalities and other public organizations?
Public organizations are subject to different rules than companies: for them, the fifty-employee threshold typically does not apply in the same way. This article explains what that means for municipalities, provinces, and other public employers.
Read more →What should I do when a report comes in?
Once a report comes in, what matters most is what you do and don't do in the first few days: register and confirm receipt, don't assess yet. This article explains the sequence.
Read more →What happens if I don't inform employees about the whistleblowing procedure?
A reporting channel that employees don't know about doesn't work. This article explains what consequences that has and how you can fix it simply.
Read more →Employee representation consent abroad: what is different?
If you have facilities in multiple EU countries, whether and how employee representation consents to the reporting arrangement differs by country. This article explains where those differences lie and what you can inquire about.
Read more →Can I handle report processing myself?
The law does not prescribe who processes the report, but does require that person to be impartial. This article shows when handling it yourself is practical and when outsourcing delivers more value.
Read more →Does the whistleblower reporting obligation change this year?
An overview of how you as an employer can see whether the reporting obligation changes this year, and how you notice that in time without having to follow the legislation yourself.
Read more →The most common mistake in recognizing retaliation against a reporting person
Employers often focus only on major, visible forms of retaliation such as dismissal. This means that smaller, gradual signals are easily missed.
Read more →What documents do you need for the reporting procedure?
An overview of the documents required for drafting and establishing a reporting procedure, and why the date of establishment is most important in this context.
Read more →How long does the works council approval procedure take?
There is no statutory deadline for works council approval of the reporting arrangement, but in practice the process usually takes a few weeks to a couple of months. We explain where it often gets stuck.
Read more →What does it cost to outsource the handling of reports?
Employers often wonder what it costs to outsource the handling of reports to an external party. This article explains where that amount comes from and which choices determine the price.
Read more →Does the fifty-employee threshold apply per company or to the entire group?
In a group with multiple private companies, it is not immediately clear whether the reporting obligation applies per legal entity or to the group as a whole. This article explains what you need to pay attention to.
Read more →Who counts towards the fifty-employee threshold?
The fifty-employee threshold determines whether a reporting channel is mandatory, but who exactly you count is not always self-evident. This article explains which employees count and where uncertainty usually arises.
Read more →What happens if I don't obtain Works Council consent?
Implementing a whistleblowing procedure without Works Council consent can render the procedure invalid. This article explains what that means in practice and how to prevent it.
Read more →Reporting arrangements abroad: what is different per EU country?
The EU Directive establishes one minimum framework, but each country implements it in its own legislation. This article shows where the national differences usually lie and what that means if you have operations in several EU countries.
Read more →Can I close a report myself?
In most cases, you can close and document a report yourself; the law does not require an external party, but it does require a careful and traceable file.
Read more →Can a whistleblower also report verbally?
An internal reporting channel must enable not only written reports but also verbal ones. Read here what that means in practice and what you as an employer should pay attention to.
Read more →The most common mistake in protecting the identity of a reporting person
When handling a report, confidentiality often fails for a simple reason: too many people know too much. This article shows where things go wrong and how to prevent it.
Read more →What documents do you need to inform employees about the reporting scheme?
An overview of the documents employees need to know and use the reporting scheme, with special attention to the detail that determines trust in the channel.
Read more →From what moment does the three-month deadline begin to run?
The three-month deadline for providing feedback to a reporter does not start with the report itself, but with a documented moment. This article explains what that moment is and where it goes wrong in practice.
Read more →What does a point of trust cost for misconduct?
A point of trust is not a fixed amount but a sum of hours, rates and choices. This article explains where the costs come from and what determines them.
Read more →Does the reporting obligation apply to my sector, even with fewer than 50 employees?
For a number of sectors, the reporting obligation applies regardless of the number of employees. This article explains which sectors these are and how to verify this for your organization.
Read more →Who may handle reports of misconduct in our company?
The law does not prescribe a job title, but it does require that the handler is impartial and has no conflict of interest with the report. This article explains what that means in practice.
Read more →What are the consequences if I don't have a whistleblower reporting channel?
Employers who are required to have a reporting channel and fail to set one up face risks on multiple levels: regulatory oversight, employees who report externally, and a strained relationship with the works council.
Read more →Must each establishment in a different EU country have its own reporting channel?
The European whistleblower directive applies throughout the EU, but each country has transposed it in its own way. For companies with operations in multiple countries, this means: one central channel is often possible, but you assess the obligation itself per country.
Read more →Can I draw up the reporting procedure myself?
The law does not prescribe a fixed format for a reporting procedure, but does require a number of elements to be included. This article shows what you can arrange yourself and when legal advice is prudent.
Read more →Bill on trusted advisor: what changes this year?
An overview of the bill for a mandatory confidential advisor: what the proposal contains, what its status is and what this means alongside your whistleblower reporting channel.
Read more →The most common mistake when enabling anonymous reporting
Many employers offer anonymous reporting, but undermine anonymity without realizing it. This article shows where things go wrong and how you can prevent this.
Read more →What documents does the works council need to approve the reporting procedure?
An overview of the documents you submit to the works council for approval of the reporting procedure, and the most common pitfall.
Read more →How long does the processing of a report take?
The law sets two firm deadlines: seven days for acknowledgement of receipt and three months for information about the follow-up. What happens after that depends on the case itself.
Read more →What does a whistleblowing channel cost?
The costs of a reporting channel vary by organisation. This article explains which choices determine the price and where you can find concrete rates.
Read more →Does the reporting obligation apply if I have fewer than 50 employees?
The threshold of fifty employees is the main rule, but in a number of sectors the reporting obligation applies regardless of the number of staff members. Read when this applies to your organization.
Read more →Within how many days must I acknowledge a report?
The law gives handlers seven days to send an acknowledgment of receipt to a whistleblower. This article explains what this deadline exactly means and what you should pay attention to.
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