The Nordic countries have recently passed a new whistleblower law that provides legal protections to individuals who report certain types of wrongdoing in their organizations. As an employer or business owner, it is important to understand this new legislation and what it means for your organization.
My goal is to outline how you might want to prepare your organization for the new whistleblower legalization in the Nordics and the steps you need to take to ensure compliance.
The first step to preparing your organization for the new whistleblower legalization in the Nordics is to understand the scope of the law. The law applies to all organizations with more than 50 employees, including public and private organizations, and covers a wide range of topics, including financial misconduct, safety issues, discrimination, and more. It is important to be aware of the types of wrongdoing that the law covers and to ensure that your organization’s policies and procedures are in compliance with the law.
The second step is to create a whistleblower policy. This policy should include information about how to report wrongdoing, the process for investigating reports, and the protections that whistleblowers will have. It is also important to make sure that your policy is accessible to all employees, so that everyone is aware of the protections afforded to whistleblowers.
The third step is to create a reporting system for whistleblowers. This system should allow employees to submit reports anonymously and provide them with feedback on the progress of their reports. It should also provide protections to ensure that whistleblowers are not retaliated against for their reports.
The fourth step is to provide training to your employees on the new law. This training should include information about the types of wrongdoing that the law covers, the process for reporting wrongdoing, and the protections that whistleblowers will have. It is also important to ensure that all employees understand the importance of reporting wrongdoing and are knowledgeable about the legal implications of reporting it.
Finally, it is important to ensure that your organization has an effective system in place to investigate reports of wrongdoing. This system should include clear guidelines for investigating reports, and ensure that the process is fair and impartial. It should also ensure that reports are handled in a timely manner and that any remedial action taken is appropriate and effective.
By taking the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your organization is prepared for the new whistleblower legalization in the Nordics. It is important to remember that the law is designed to protect whistleblowers and to help ensure that organizations are held accountable for any wrongdoing that may occur. Taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the law will help to ensure that your organization is in a position to handle any reports of wrongdoing that may arise.
References
https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=bcf5bd83-5e5f-4d8f-9f55-e7f07b07f63d
https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/02/25/nordic-countries-adopt-strong-whistleblower-protections
https://www.hrlawadvice.com/blog/whistleblowing-laws-in-the-nordic-countries-a-brief-overview/
