Employees who raise concerns need to be regarded as the good guys rather than the bad guys - Philip Brennan Raiseaconcern.com
Employers and fellow employees regard whistleblowers with caution and suspicion at best
Employees who raise concerns need to be regarded as the good guys rather than the bad guys – Philip Brennan, Raiseaconcern.com
Typically, employers and fellow employees regard whistleblowers with caution and suspicion at best. In more extreme cases they can be victimised and forced out of the organisation, according to Philip Brennan of RaisaConcern.com, an Irish organisation that advises on and operates whistleblowing schemes.
Mr Brennan, who retired as AIB Group General Manager, Regulation & Compliance in 2011 said, “'Group think' often prevails and the lone voice of the contrarian view or conscientious objector experiences difficulty in being heard. They are made to prove their case and as a result many employees who have concerns about wrongdoing fail to raise them. They choose to remain silent. This is because their biggest fear is that they will be penalised by their line manager or employer for doing so and 'labelled' by their colleagues. It's just not worth it.”
Philip continued, “Alternatively, employees will go outside the organisation and, in frustration, leak details of the wrongdoing to the press. The Protected Disclosures Act now offers them protection or at least redress. They are also entitled to have their identity protected as far as possible. So employers need to take action to ensure they comply with this new law. Rather than regarding this as a further imposition of employment law, employers should use this as an opportunity. Encouraging employees to raise concerns and protecting them when they do so is good, rather than bad, for business. It’s better to be alert and have an early warning process for possible problems rather than discovering them in several years’ time when it’s too late.
“Forewarned means an employer can reduce the risk of financial and reputational damage and be able to manage problems in a controlled manner rather than under the glare of media, public or regulatory attention. Those who normally have the best sense of where problems are, are the employees. Corporate Ireland needs a culture change so that employees who raise concerns are regarded as the good guys rather than the bad guys. They should be encouraged and facilitated rather than frowned upon. Better employers are coming to realise this.”
Ends
Philip Brennan will speak at an Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) free event “Protecting Whistle-blowers”, Tuesday, 24th February 2015 at PWC’s offices at One Spencer Dock, North Wall Quay, Dublin 1. He recently completed a two year term as Chairman of the Association of Compliance Officers in Ireland and is a former President of the Irish Tax Institute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
Philip Brennan, Managing Director, Raiseaconcern.com Tel; +353 1 6107929, Mobile 086 02 999 29
philipbrennan@raiseaconcern.com
