First of all, what is whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is the act of bringing a misconduct to the attention of a person in authority so that he or she can take appropriate action to prevent or repair possible damage.
Unfortunately, many situations can arise in the course of our daily activities at work. Whether you are a witness or a victim, it is important to report any misconduct. Here is some information that will help you determine if a report is warranted.
Psychological harassment
Psychological harassment is vexatious conduct that manifests itself through repeated, hostile, and unwanted words, behaviors, or gestures. When such a situation occurs, the dignity or psychological or physical integrity of the person is affected, and the work, collaboration or study environment becomes harmful.
There are different forms of harassment: psychological, sexual, physical, or cyberbullying.
Intentionally withholding important information or making derogatory comments about a person can also constitute harassment.
Conflicts of interest
A person is in a conflict of interest when they have personal interests or information that could unduly influence the performance of their official duties and responsibilities or that could be used for personal gain.
Other situations
- Incivility
- Bullying
- Gender, cultural or religious discrimination
- Non-compliance with internal security and safety standards
- Alcohol or drug use in the workplace
- Concerns about the awarding of contracts
Fraud
Fraud is the attempt to obtain property, financial gain, or some other advantage, or to avoid financial or material loss by illegal means (lying, usurpation, breach of trust, misleading, etc.).
Fraud is estimated to cost organizations an average of 5% of their gross revenues (Report to the nations, Global study on occupational Fraud and Abuse Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, ACFE 2020).
In addition to the financial impacts, fraud has an impact on the reputation of the organizations and on employee satisfaction and morale.
Theft
Theft can take several forms: it can be theft of company property (computer equipment, office supplies, etc.), theft of time or theft of data.
Did you know?
Some studies estimate that up to 80%* of incidents are never reported. The reasons for not reporting include:
- fear of retaliation, such as fear of being stigmatized or fear of losing their job
- lack of support from the employer to correct the situation
- lack of knowledge of what constitutes misconduct
* Harassment and Violence in the Work Place Regulations: DORS/2020-130, Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 154, Number 13, June 24, 2020)
The ALIAS whistleblower line is an external tool that your organization has developed to promote a healthy workplace free of all forms of psychological harassment and to ensure sound and efficient governance.
If you witness or are a victim of a reprehensible situation, you can make a report in a confidential and anonymous manner. Your involvement is important!