A speak-up platform to empower your organisation

A speakup system is a secure, confidential tool for reporting misconduct, safety issues, and feedback. It goes beyond traditional whistleblowing to provide a comprehensive cultural diagnostic and transformation solution.

Elker's platform combines accessible reporting mechanisms with intelligent case management, real-time analytics, and expert-guided program design to help organisations proactively identify and resolve issues. By empowering employee voice, the system enables companies to mitigate risks, demonstrate accountability, and cultivate a speak-up culture of trust and transparency.

Elker's secure, confidential reporting system is designed to capture a wide spectrum of workplace concerns, including:

• Misconduct and unethical behaviour such as harassment, discrimination, and retaliation
• Illegal conduct, including fraud, bribery, and anti-competitive behaviour
• Regulatory breaches and compliance incidents
• Data privacy lapses and cybersecurity threats
• Workplace safety hazards, including psychosocial hazards
• Any observed or suspected wrongdoing that undermines organisational values

Elker provides leadership with vital early warning signals by empowering employees to report safely and anonymously.

An effective speak-up platform acts as a catalyst for positive cultural transformation by:

• Empowering employees to voice concerns without fear of reprisal
• Equipping leaders with early insight into emerging risks
• Facilitating dialogue and collaborative problem-solving
• Informing targeted policy, training, and relevant engagement initiatives
• Signalling organisational commitment to integrity, inclusion, and continuous improvement

Elker takes a holistic, data-driven approach to cultural change. Advanced analytics capabilities help uncover root causes behind workplace issues, while integrated action planning tools enable strategic follow-through. The platform also provides multimedia training content and program templates to embed speaking up into the cultural fabric.

Building an effective speak-up culture requires organisational effort across several areas:

Leadership commitment: Leaders must visibly champion the speak-up program, respond constructively to concerns, and protect those who raise issues. When senior management consistently reinforces speak-up messages and incorporates them into regular communications, employees receive a clear signal that speaking up is valued, not punished.

Trust: Organisations build trust by ensuring confidentiality, preventing retaliation, and demonstrating that reports lead to meaningful action. As highlighted in research, employees often hesitate to report misconduct due to fear of retaliation or doubt that their concerns will be addressed.

Communication: This includes incorporating speak-up messaging into your code of conduct, regular training programs, staff meetings, and internal communications. Effective organisations treat speak-up communications like any other internal campaign, using multiple channels to reinforce the message.

Transparency: When employees see reports that lead to positive changes, they gain confidence in the system. Elker's platform provides anonymised metrics showing how issues were addressed, giving leadership the data needed to demonstrate the system's effectiveness.

Training at all levels: This includes training for employees on how to report, for managers on how to receive concerns appropriately, and for investigators on conducting fair and thorough investigations. Without proper training, even well-intentioned speak-up initiatives can falter when concerns aren't handled properly.

Elker is ISO 27001 certified, the internationally recognised standard for information security management. This certification, verified by independent auditors, confirms our comprehensive approach to protecting sensitive information throughout our operations.

Our security framework is built on four core principles:

Zero-trust architecture: We verify every access request regardless of source. Even if someone breaches one security layer, they still can't access sensitive data without proper authentication.

Defence-in-depth: Rather than relying on a single security measure, we layer multiple controls throughout our systems. Each layer provides additional protection, making it increasingly difficult for threats to penetrate.

Privacy-by-design: Privacy protection is integrated into every aspect of our system from initial design through development. This includes technical mechanisms to enforce reporter anonymity when requested.

Continuous improvement: We regularly update security measures, conduct penetration testing, and implement new protections to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Technical data security measures include:

• AES-256 encryption for all data, both in transit and at rest
• Support for Single Sign-On (SSO) using industry-standard protocols
• Regular independent penetration testing
• Role-based access controls (RBAC) govern all system access
• Comprehensive cyber incident response planning
• Secure development lifecycles with threat modeling and code reviews
• SOC 2-certified hosting infrastructure

A code of conduct serves as the foundation for any effective speak-up system. It clearly defines organisational values, expected behaviors, and prohibited actions, providing the essential framework that gives a speak-up system purpose and direction.

Without a clear code of conduct, employees lack the necessary reference points to identify reportable misconduct. The code establishes standards against which potential issues can be evaluated, helping reporters determine when speaking up is appropriate and necessary.

Elker assists organisations in developing and refining their code of conduct alongside the implementation of a speak-up system. Our team works with clients to:

• Align policy with reporting mechanisms: We help ensure your code of conduct explicitly supports speak-up processes and integrates with reporting categories in your system.
• Develop clear, accessible language: We assist in crafting code of conduct language that communicates expectations while remaining accessible to all employees.
• Create supporting policies: Beyond the primary code, we help develop related policies around non-retaliation, investigation procedures, and case management that strengthen your speak-up culture.

An effective reporting form balances completeness with accessibility. Based on our extensive experience implementing speak-up systems, we've identified several critical elements that make reporting forms effective:

Intuitive design and clear language: Reporting forms should use straightforward, jargon-free language that guides users through the process. Complex or legalistic terminology creates barriers to reporting, particularly for sensitive issues like harassment or discrimination. 

Appropriate anonymity options: Forms should clearly explain confidentiality options and allow reporters to choose their level of anonymity. This is especially important for human rights concerns where reporters may fear retaliation.

Structured yet flexible questioning: Effective forms use smart logic to adapt questions based on the type of issue being reported. This ensures you collect the right information for each case type without overwhelming reporters with irrelevant questions.

Multi-channel accessibility: Reports should be accessible through multiple channels to accommodate different situations and preferences. A reporter may not feel comfortable using a work computer to file a sensitive report.

Clear explanation of next steps: The form should set appropriate expectations about what happens after submission, including timeframes, who will see the report, and how the reporter can track progress or provide additional information.

Data security assurances: Forms should explicitly address how information will be protected, reinforcing trust in the system's security.