First to Know: Robust Internal Reporting Mechanisms

This guidebook provides information on the recent legal developments, voluntary initiatives, and emerging best practices in the areas of encouraging reporting, making disclosures and protecting staff who are prepared to speak up when malpractice occurs within a company. The term “whistleblowing” has been avoided in this publication as it has developed negative connotations in some countries and is associated with the act of reporting to external authorities or media, without prior warning given to senior management.

The systems advocated in this booklet are designed to ensure that suspicions, complaints and violations can be investigated internally so that problems may be resolved before authorities need to be involved.