Why access is the fastest way to improve a whistleblower program
If whistleblowing numbers are a lagging indicator, then access is one of the strongest leading indicators you can control. It is also one of the most underestimated. Most programs do not fail because the policy is wrong. They fail because, at the moment someone considers speaking up, the channel is hard to find, hard to trust, or hard to use.
ASIC’s benchmarking points to a simple pattern. When people decide to report, they are usually not looking for the “best” channel. They choose the channel that feels easiest and safest in that moment. That makes availability and discoverability a core part of program performance, not a minor detail.
Dedicated channels are where most reports come in
ASIC observed that most disclosures came in through dedicated whistleblower webpages or hotlines. Yet not every company offered them. Companies that offered these dedicated channels tended to report higher disclosure rates.
This is not surprising. Dedicated channels reduce friction. They also reduce the sense that reporting is “going through the business”, which is often what people worry about.
This raises a simple but revealing internal test:
Could a new hire find the reporting page in under 60 seconds?
Could a contractor or supplier find it without logging in?
Does the page explain, in plain language, what happens next?
Third-party providers can help, but the “why” matters
Many companies engaged third-party service providers. It is easy to frame this as outsourcing. The more useful frame is independence.
A third party can change the emotional maths for a potential whistleblower. It can feel less like “I am accusing my company to my company,” and more like “I am documenting a concern with a neutral receiver.”
But a third party is not a substitute for good internal handling. If outcomes are slow, unclear, or inconsistent, people still learn not to use the channel.
Anonymous reporting is common, but not universal
Most companies said they allow fully anonymous reporting, and many enable anonymous two-way communication.
This is more than a feature checklist. Anonymous two-way communication is often what turns a vague report into an actionable one.
The bigger meaning here is about choice.
“Do we make it easy for someone to start anonymous, then choose to identify later if they feel safe?”
“Can we communicate progress without exposing identity?”
If you only fix one thing, fix friction
Access is one of those program elements that feels “basic” until you test it. If the channel is hard to find, or the first step feels risky, many potential disclosures simply never enter the system. That is not a culture statement. It is a design outcome.
Speak with our consultants
If you would like a simple access and usability sense-check of your current reporting paths, speak with our consultants for a complimentary consultation.
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