International guidance on whistleblowing.

Good governance in any organization involves demonstrating accountability and fostering a “speak up” culture. To address the importance of having a secure and effective way that employees can report concerns about wrongdoing, a new ISO standard for whistleblowing has just been published.

ISO 37002, Whistleblowing management systems – Guidelines, provides guidance for implementing, managing, evaluating, maintaining, and improving a robust and effective management system for whistleblowing. It is non-sector-specific and can be used by organizations of all sizes, including SMEs, as well as those with international operations.

Following the three principles of trust, impartiality, and protection, the standard covers the identification and reporting of such concerns and how they are assessed and addressed. Its use will not only minimize or prevent potential losses but also ensure compliance with organizational policies and legal and social obligations.

Prof. Wim Vandekerckhove, Convener of the ISO working group that developed the standard, said implementation of ISO 37002 will help to build trust between an organization and its stakeholders, providing a strong layer of protection against corruption.

“Good governance and transparency require that staff can feel confident reporting any concerns of wrongdoing without fear of repercussions,” he added.

“Therefore, it is crucial to manage this process effectively. This new standard helps to do that by providing guidance on what a robust and effective whistleblowing management system looks like and how to operate it in the best possible way.”