Are you already informed of the new "whistleblower legislation”?
Why does your company need an internal hotline?
Since 16 February 2023, large companies (with more than 250 employees) must set up an internal hotline. Smaller companies (up to 49 employees) have until 17 December 2023* before this becomes mandatory. Here, all kinds of stakeholders, such as employees, contractors, visitors, ex-employees, students can report (suspicions of) wrongdoings. These can range from fraud, public health, product safety, GDPR to consumer protection.
The Dutch Whistleblowers Authority "Huis voor Klokkenluiders" notes that reports often concern social insecurity - such as a culture of fear or transgressive behaviour - and fraud.** The new legislation aims to improve whistleblower protection, which companies cannot ignore.
Consider these situations:
- At a company party, where alcohol flows abundantly, a supervisor behaves inappropriately towards an employee. The latter wants to report the incident…
- An employee notices that the food safety rules are not being followed correctly and wants to address the issue…
This happened to some of our members. The employees concerned called Food Security's "Central hotline". How can your employees pass on such information? Make sure they can report wrongdoings in a discreet manner. How does this work?
What can we learn from this incident?
Set up an internal hotline within your company
It is not only legally obligated, but it also ensures that employees can report anomalies properly, which contributes to a safe work environment. Choose from diverse channels, such as a letter box, a telephone number or website.
Ensure clear communication about the hotline
Good internal communication is crucial. Inform employees about their options (in writing or verbally), explain how the system works and what happens to their reports. A clear message with all the necessary information is essential.
Consider working with an external partner
You can set up a hotline yourself or call on an external partner. An external partner has the advantage of being extra independent which guarantees the anonymity of your employees.
How can we help you?
Activate the Central hotline (included in your membership)
As a Food Security member, you can use our "Central hotline" service, which is included in your membership. We listen to and assess the situation, then involve management to ensure proper follow-up. You can easily activate it by contacting us. That way you comply with the new legislation immediately.
Sources:
**Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties. (2023, March 14th).
Jaarverslag 2022 Huis voor Klokkenluiders. Jaarverslag | Huisvoorklokkenluiders. https://www.huisvoorklokkenluiders.nl/Publicaties/jaarverslagen/2023/03/15/jaarverslag-2022-huis-voor-klokkenluiders
*Weldra bescherming voor klokkenluiders. (z.d.). Securex. https://www.securex.be/nl/lex4...
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