Transform your organisation with a secure whistleblowing hotline

A whistleblowing hotline is a secure channel for employees to report workplace misconduct, fraud, harassment, safety and environmental issues, and other ethical concerns. Digital whistleblowing hotlines like Elker provide multiple reporting options, advanced case management tools, and expert support to help organisations manage disclosures safely and compliantly.

Elker offers support and industry expertise to help you develop a successful whistleblowing program. Our services include:

• Consultation on setup and configuration, including intake methods, report categories, and workflows

• Customisable, best-practice policy templates

• Role-specific training for managers, report recipients, and investigators on compliant hotline management

• Ongoing advisory services to help you interpret and comply with evolving whistleblowing regulations

• Case management tools that streamline report handling, improve collaboration and generate audit-ready documentation

• Advanced analytics and benchmarking to help you track program performance and mitigate risks

Large companies and government agencies in Australia have whistleblowing obligations under laws like the Corporations Act, Taxation Administration Act, and public-sector legislation like the Public Interest Disclosure Act. Elker's advisory team can help you determine which national laws and whistleblower protections your hotline needs to comply with based on your industry and jurisdiction.

Elker makes it easy for employees to speak up while streamlining report management for your business. With intelligent workflows and data analytics, our hotline enables you to detect and prevent misconduct proactively. You'll also benefit from expert guidance to implement a successful and compliant program.

Elker's digital whistleblowing hotline allows employees to confidentially report a wide range of workplace misconduct, including but not limited to:

• Fraud, bribery and financial improprieties

• Harassment, discrimination and bullying

• Workplace health and safety breaches

• Data privacy violations and cybersecurity concerns

• Legal and regulatory non-compliance

• Unethical conduct and breaches of company policies

By providing a secure, independent channel for reporting wrongdoing, Elker empowers your employees to speak up and play an active role in maintaining an ethical, compliant workplace.

Protecting whistleblower identities is a core capability of Elker's system. Our digital hotline allows employees to remain anonymous, without fear of retaliation or detrimental conduct. The platform helps organisations comply with confidentiality requirements in whistleblower laws.

Core safeguards include:

• Secure, encrypted submission form and 2-way chat that does not collect identifying data

• Option to remain completely anonymous throughout the reporting and investigation process

• Strict access controls that restrict the visibility of report details to authorised personnel only

• Compliance with data privacy regulations and whistleblower protection laws

Elker's security-first architecture and governance features ensure employees can trust our hotline service to protect their confidentiality when reporting sensitive concerns. Visit our Security page for further information.

Whistleblowing legislation varies by country and industry, but some key laws and standards to be aware of include:

• Australia: Corporations Act, Public Interest Disclosure Act, Treasury Laws Amendment (Enhancing Whistleblower Protections) Act, and ASIC Regulatory Guide 270

• United States: Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Dodd-Frank Act, and SEC Office of the Whistleblower program

• EU countries: EU Whistleblower Protection Directive (Directive 2019/1937)

• United Kingdom: Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA)

Specific sectors, such as financial services and government, may have additional regulatory requirements. Elker stays current with the latest whistleblowing laws across the globe to help you implement a hotline program that meets your unique compliance obligations.

Implementing an effective whistleblowing system requires careful planning and execution. Some key best practices include:

1. Develop clear policies: Establish a comprehensive whistleblowing policy that defines reportable issues, investigation procedures, confidentiality protections, and anti-retaliation measures. Elker provides customisable policy templates to simplify this process.

2. Raise awareness: Communicate the existence and purpose of your whistleblowing hotline to all employees, managers, and senior people. Use multiple channels like email, intranet, posters, and town halls to spread the word and encourage usage.

3. Provide training: Educate employees on how to identify and report misconduct through your digital hotline. Train designated personnel on how to receive, investigate, and resolve whistleblowing reports appropriately. Elker offers comprehensive eLearning and in-person training options.

4. Monitor and measure: Regularly review key metrics like reporting volume, case closure times, and substantiation rates to gauge the effectiveness of your hotline program. Elker's analytics dashboard provides real-time insights to help you spot trends and drive continuous improvement.

By following these practices and partnering with an experienced whistleblowing service provider like Elker, you can implement a hotline that detects and deters unethical conduct.

An effective whistleblowing system offers multiple advantages for organisations of all sizes and industries. Key benefits include:

• Early risk detection: Whistleblowing hotlines enable employees to report potential misconduct, fraud, safety hazards, and other risks at the earliest stages, allowing your company to investigate and mitigate issues before they escalate.

• Improved legal compliance: Meeting whistleblowing obligations under the Corporations Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, and other national laws helps your organisation avoid costly penalties and maintain good standing with regulators.

• Reduced financial losses: The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners estimates that companies with hotlines detect fraud 33% faster and experience 50% smaller losses per case than those without reporting channels.

• Stronger ethical culture: Providing a safe, accessible avenue for employees to speak up about wrongdoing sends a powerful message that your organisation prioritises integrity, accountability, and transparency.

Reputational protection: Proactively identifying and addressing misconduct through a whistleblowing hotline helps preserve stakeholder trust and mitigate the risk of public scandal.