NAVEX 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report Reveals Key Workplace Trends

The NAVEX 2024 Whistleblowing & Incident Management Benchmark Report has unveiled significant findings on workplace culture and reporting mechanisms, drawing from an analysis of 1.86 million global reports across organizations with over 50 million employees. Carrie Penman, NAVEX Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, underscores the report's introduction of third-party reporting insights, advocating for the adoption of both internal and external reporting channels to enhance organizational integrity and accountability.

Highlighting the report's key findings, a record 1.57 reports per 100 employees were documented, alongside a substantiation rate of 45%, marking the highest in 11 years. Notably, third parties were more inclined to report on business integrity and financial misconduct, with 50% of their reports focusing on business integrity issues, a stark contrast to the 17% from employees. Accounting-related reports, though fewer in number, garnered considerable attention due to their potential regulatory implications and association with whistleblower reward programs.

The report also sheds light on the dynamics of workplace behaviors, with a noticeable uptick in reports related to workplace civility, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation as employees transition back to office environments. This data underscores the critical need for cultivating a respectful and inclusive work culture, alongside the implementation of effective reporting mechanisms to navigate the complexities of modern workplace challenges.