Why Employees Still Don’t Speak Up and What Organisations Can Do About It

Many organisations have a whistleblowing policy in place. Fewer have a culture where employees genuinely feel safe using it.

Research consistently shows that a significant number of employees who witness wrongdoing choose not to report it. The reasons are rarely about not knowing how to report. They are about fear, trust and perceived consequences.

Employees may worry about being treated differently, overlooked for opportunities, or labelled as a troublemaker.

If employees believe nothing will change, they are less likely to come forward.

In global or multi-site organisations, language differences can create hesitation. If reporting requires an interpreter or feels complicated, many simply will not proceed.

In some cultures, raising concerns about authority figures can feel uncomfortable or even unacceptable.

Organisations that build strong speak-up cultures do more than publish a policy. They:

• Communicate clearly and regularly about how to raise concerns
• Reassure employees about confidentiality and protection
• Provide accessible, easy-to-use reporting channels
• Demonstrate that concerns lead to action

Visibility and simplicity matter. If reporting feels difficult, delayed or costly, engagement drops.

Modern workplaces are digital, global and fast-moving. Reporting systems should reflect that reality.

A fully digital solution removes many traditional barriers:

• No need to arrange interpreter services
• No delays waiting for call availability
• No additional per-minute costs
• Accessible across multiple sites and countries
• Available anytime

It also creates opportunities beyond issue reporting. When employees can safely share suggestions as well as concerns, organisations gain insight that supports improvement and innovation.

Whistleblowing is not only about compliance. It is about culture, trust and long-term resilience.

When employees feel confident that their voice will be heard and taken seriously, organisations benefit from earlier risk detection, stronger engagement and better decision-making.

Creating that environment requires intention, communication and the right tools. At Whiss, we work with organisations across the UK to remove barriers to speaking up through fully digital, multilingual reporting systems designed for modern workplaces.