ISO 37002 Whistleblowing management systems — Guidelines is an international standard, that provides guidelines for the implementation, control, evaluation, maintenance and improvement of a robust and efficient management system regarding whistleblowing in organizations. It is applicable to all types of organizations, small as well as large, and operating in both the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Legislation on whistleblowing and the whistleblowing standard complement each other and can be useful to organizations that are about to implement a whistleblowing scheme.
The legislation focuses on the protection of whistleblowers. However, most organizations also want to support a culture where there is no offense, rude harassment or other wrongdoings that might prompt whistleblowing. To that end, steps should be taken to create a culture that supports ethical, responsible behaviour and prevents the unwanted situations to occur.
The standard lays the foundation for organizational efforts to promote a "speak up" culture that furthers a transparent and credible organization. This minimises the risk of critical incidents that might attract the spotlight on breaches of legislation, human rights, etc.
The whistleblowing management system, ISO 37002, allows organizations to establish a systematic approach to implementing and showcasing their work on openness, transparency, integrity and accountability.
Whistleblowing management systems — Guidelines helps organizations establish and maintain a robust and reliable system that allows employees and other interested parties to safely report concerns and suspicions. Moreover, the standard can be used to document the organization’s systematic efforts in this area.
The requirements of DS/ISO 37002 are generic and intended to be applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size and nature, and no matter whether they operate in the private, public or non-profit sectors. This includes public sector companies, large organizations, SMEs and NGOs.
Would you like a seat at the table to be able to discuss whistleblowing and other relevant governance issues? Then seize the opportunity to join Danish Standards’ standardization committee on governance (S-859). The committee is interesting for both public and private organizations. Organizations with an international focus or operating in industries such as finance and pharmaceuticals as well as law firms and consulting companies may have a particular interest in the work of the committee.
