EU Whistleblower Protection Directive: A global employer’s top 10 questions answered

More than a year after local implementation of the Whistleblower Protection Directive was due to happen, transposing laws have finally been passed in most of the EU’s 27 Member States.

Now that the shape of local laws is clear, we hosted a webinar in which DLA employment lawyers from Belgium, Spain, Ireland, France, Germany, UK and USA discussed the new laws and the challenges which the requirements are posing for global employers.

The discussion addressed the top 10 questions businesses are asking:

1. What is the current implementation status across the EU?
2. Which entities are affected?
3. Can an employer use a group-wide whistleblower reporting channel?
4. Can a company use a third-party provider?
5. Should employee representatives be consulted about reporting channels?
6. What practical requirements should a whistleblower reporting channel meet?
7. What are the enforcement risks?
8. What report information can be shared with central group functions?
9. Are there particular points of concern in any country?
10. What approach are US entities taking to compliance?