Whistleblowing Channel or Speak-up Line

Each company or institution can set up a whistleblowing channel either on their own or have it done by an external party. Whichever option you choose, you need to be sure that both the reporting through the whistleblowing channel and the subsequent procedure will ensure confidentiality and security for the person who reported the suspicion. The more serious the incident, the more convinced the whistleblowers wants to be of their own protection and the more beneficial it is for the organisation to deal with the incident without losing time in order to reduce the amount of damage. The existence of a functioning whistleblowing channel can also open doors for you to new business relationships with partners who value legal and ethical compliance.  

If you decide to order the services of a whistleblowing channel from KPMG, we will help you establish a speak-up line system which will be considered reliable by your employees and partners alike. We provide a secure and confidential whistleblowing channel and we handle the reports quickly, impartially and professionally. In this way, we help you focus on the main activities of your company or institution and increase the possibility that your organisation as a whole will benefit from the whistleblowing channel. 

Establishment and maintenance of a whistleblowing channel

• We offer an online whistleblowing channel, which is a reliable, secure and user-friendly way for your employees and partners to report their suspicions.
• The whistleblowing channel complies with the necessary cybersecurity and data protection rules, allowing, among other things, encrypted messaging with the whistleblower and the sending of documents.
• Reports can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, both confidentially and anonymously, and in different languages if necessary.  

Initial handling of reports

• We offer independent initial handling of reports, including verification and clarification of the facts provided by the whistleblower.
• On the basis of the collected information, we prepare an initial summary, which enables the responsible persons in your organisation to decide how to proceed.
• We send a confirmation about receiving the report to the whistleblower in accordance with the requirements of the legislation.  

Full investigation of reports

• If necessary, we conduct an independent investigation of the report, where we collect documentary evidence from various data sources and databases, as well as conduct interviews with people who have or may have relevant information.
• We can start investigating the report within 48 hours after the governing body of your organisation adoptions the relevant decision.
• If necessary, we involve in the conduct of the procedure experts from other areas of KPMG who are able to collect and examine IT evidence, have a thorough knowledge of the financial or tax system or have other specific skills, knowledge and experience.
• At the end of the procedure, we prepare a comprehensive investigation report in which we present our observations in a clear and understandable manner, including an overview of the most important evidence.
• We also send feedback to the whistleblower on the follow-up measures applied on the basis of the report in accordance with the requirements of the legislation. 

Other additional services related to introducing a whistleblowing channel

• We assist you in preparing the internal rules for whistleblowing, including, if necessary, a brief introduction to the most important principles and rules of whistleblowing.
• We provide training to the employees of your organisation, during which we will talk about the need for the whistleblowing channel and the principles of its use, as well as explain the different stages of the whistleblowing process and how to ensure the protection of the whistleblower.

What clients have told us about our services*

1. Reporting of suspicions and handling of reports appear to be more transparent and objective for employees.
2. The processes of receiving and handling reports are more clearly established and no person or event-specific exceptions are made.
3. An external party conducts the procedure and makes proposals more objectively, more easily captures the whole picture and is not affected by any personal or taboo issues in the organisation.
4. The handling of reports is carried out using a common methodology, based on the significance of the problem, and provides an assessment of whether the process works or not.
   
5. When handling reports and making proposals, the focus is on the risks of the company, and the materials are also analysed and evaluated with a view to the company’s efficiency.
6. In external party interviews, it is easier for employees to open themselves up in the style of: “I'll speak honestly because this procedure seems to be external.”
7. External party opinions have more weight for the company’s management and are taken more seriously than those of an in-house employee or department.

* The client data is confidential.