In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, seven out of ten individuals believe that whistleblowing is an essential tool for driving organizational improvements. This sentiment was revealed in the 2023 Asia Pacific Conduct Watch Survey Report conducted by professional services firm Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (Deloitte). The survey drew responses from over 500 organizations across several Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, China, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The report highlighted that 70 percent of the respondents recognized the significance of whistleblowing, acknowledging its role in exposing corruption and other forms of misconduct. Moreover, 66 percent of the participants regarded whistleblowing as an effective means of detecting fraud and other unethical behaviors. Additionally, close to 60 percent of the respondents viewed it as a strategy to foster a positive and transparent working environment.
Deloitte Philippines stated, “While fraud and conflicts of interest still represent a significant proportion of disclosures, whistleblowing channels are increasingly being used to report concerns related to people matters.” The study revealed that 48 percent of respondents identified human resource grievances as the top issue, while 25 percent reported instances of sexual harassment.
However, the report also highlighted a disconnect between the perception of whistleblowing as a priority and the actual oversight provided by organizations. While 58 percent of respondents considered whistleblowing a high priority within their organization, less than half believed that the company’s board should have oversight. Neal Ysart, Deloitte Philippines’ forensic leader, emphasized the importance of leadership support in promoting a robust whistleblowing program, stating, “If employees and third parties do not see actual leadership support for this policy, it is less likely they will step forward and speak up when they have knowledge of wrongdoing.”
-CSN
READ: Exposing wrongdoing: The uncertain fate of whistleblowers in PH
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.