Looking for legal support in the creation of a whistleblowing system, a client employing several hundred employees turned to LEADELL Vītols labor law specialists. Since the Whistleblowing Law provides for the creation of a whistleblowing system in companies with more than 50 employees, it was the company’s obligation to proactively address the issue. In addition, the client had also received informal notice about individual misconducts within the company and concluded that the existence of a system would help employees and others to report potential problems, and the company to identify and fix them accordingly.
What is whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is an opportunity to promote legitimate, honest, open and transparent work of organizations in the public and private sectors, using the right to express one’s opinion freely. The Whistleblowing Law helps the citizens of Latvia to prevent violations and damage to public interests while protecting whistleblowers from adverse consequences.
What benefits does the whistleblowing system provide?
Latvia, like other European Union member states, transposes the EU Whistleblowers Directive, introducing whistleblowing mechanisms that help citizens get involved in preventing harm to various public interests, and ensuring common EU standards to protect whistleblowers. By implementing a whistleblowing policy in a company, the company not only executes good corporate governance and open culture but also directly affects a number of problems that can be eradicated:
- Fraud, corruption and unethical behavior;
- Damage to reputation;
- Exacerbation of problem situations;
- Occurrence of losses;
- Lack of understanding.
How can a specialist help in developing a whistleblowing system?
Responding to the client’s request, LEADELL Vītols’ team of labor law specialists developed a whistleblowing policy, which defined who is a whistleblower, what is the purpose of whistleblowing, and what violations should be brought to attention. As part of the work, the procedure for submitting a whistleblower’s report was also drafted and other guidelines were ensured. Specialists also developed a procedure for reviewing whistleblower reports, which is an internal company procedure that regulates issues such as responsible persons, receiving reports, registration, review, etc.
Read more about the beneficial effects of creating a whistleblowing system in a company here.
What to do if uncertainties in connection with mobbing or other labor law matters arise?
LEADELL Vītols team actively provides professional support in labor law matters to clients. Entrust these and other labor law issues to us: riga@leadell.com
Legal assistance was provided by LEADELL’s team of labor law experts, led by an attorney at law and partner Ilze Jankeviča. Labor law issues, including identifying signs of mobbing in companies, are the professional passion and specialty of LEADELL law firm experts.
