Introducing our new whistleblowing hotline service

As the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, we’re always looking for ways to improve our offering, ensuring our clients receive the best service possible. That’s why we’ve introduced a new whistleblowing hotline service, giving businesses a reliable way to receive and handle reports of concern. 

Whistleblowing can cause serious issues for a company’s reputation if not reported and handled in the correct way - but our new hotline reduces the risk of reputational damage by detecting issues and risks at an early stage. 

What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is when an employee reports certain types of wrongdoing, such as bribery, corruption or fraud, related to their organisation. Reports of concern must be made in the public interest, meaning that the wrongdoing must affect others outside of the organisation. 

People reporting a concern have the right to raise their concern at any time, whether it’s about an incident that happened in the past, one that is happening now, or if they believe something will happen in the near future.

Reports of this type can be very damaging for a company’s reputation but whistleblowers are protected by law under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, meaning that they should not be treated unfairly or lose their job because of their report. Because of this, it’s important that businesses receive professional advice on the best way to handle a report of concern. 

Our hotline service

Through our new whistleblowing hotline service, our expert team of regulatory solicitors can receive reports from employees via phone or email, to a dedicated email address or phone line.

Once a report of concern has been received, our team will acknowledge the report and evaluate the best course of action for the business. Whether this is referring the reporter to the HR or compliance manager, seeking more information from the reporter, or deciding that no action is needed, all reports are addressed appropriately to prevent scandal and reputational damage. 

After providing initial advice on how a report should be investigated, our team can then carry out the investigation subject to a separate instruction.

Benefits for business

By adopting our whistleblowing hotline service, businesses can create a positive, speak-up culture amongst employees and enforce a clear zero-tolerance policy on anti-bribery and corruption.

It can also ensure adverse consequences for reporters are avoided - if reporters feel they have been treated unfairly after whistleblowing, this can cause problems for the business as they have the right to take the case to an employment tribunal. 

What’s more, our service ensures that businesses are meeting industry, statutory and regulatory standards, which in turn improves their reputation with key stakeholders such as customers, employees and third parties.

Jonathan Goolden, our head of regulatory and public law, said:

“We’re very excited to be launching our whistleblowing hotline service, offering an efficient and reliable way for businesses to deal with reports of concern.

“Whistleblowing is a very sensitive issue for businesses, so it needs to be handled professionally and pragmatically to ensure the best outcome for both the business and the employer. Through the new service, we can provide practical solutions to reports of concern, whilst also avoiding adverse consequences for reporters.”

To find out more about the new hotline, or to enquire about costs, get in touch.