Whistleblowing and Gender Equality: Fostering Change Through Confidential Reporting Channels

The pursuit of gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic business decision. Companies around the globe are increasingly recognizing the benefits of fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, including improved financial performance, increased innovation, and enhanced reputation. However, achieving gender parity remains a formidable challenge, with systemic barriers persisting in many organizations.

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index provides a sobering assessment of the current state of gender equality around the world. The top five positions in the 2023 Index are dominated by Nordic countries, underscoring the region’s commitment to gender equality. Despite incremental progress, the report shows that it will take decades, if not centuries, to close the gender gap on a global scale.

In this article, we explore the role of whistleblowing as a tool to advance gender equality worldwide, its importance in implementing and maintaining international standards such as ISO 30415 for diversity and inclusion, and the benefits of using an effective, EU-compliant digital whistleblowing system such as Legality Whistleblowing to collect, manage and document non-compliant situations, suitable for both large corporations and SMEs.

ISO 30415 is an international standard that serves as a guideline for promoting Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) principles within organizations, helping them to promote the implementation of such principles through tangible and verifiable actions.

This standard, which applies to all types of organizations regardless of legal form, sector, or size, does not define the requirements for a management system but focuses on human resource management processes.

In doing so, it aims to help organizations achieve their D&I goals by continuously improving inclusive capabilities and valuing diversity.

The development of ISO 30415 draws on ISO 26000 “Guidance on Social Responsibility” and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on Goal 5 “Gender equality”, Goal 8 “Decent work and economic growth” and Goal 10 “Reducing inequalities”.

Whistleblowing, the act of reporting wrongdoing or unethical behavior within an organization, has emerged as a powerful mechanism for advancing gender equality. By providing a confidential channel for employees to report instances of gender discrimination, harassment, or unequal treatment, whistleblowing empowers individuals to hold their employers accountable for fostering inclusive workplaces. Moreover, whistleblowing can serve as an early warning system, enabling companies to address systemic issues before they escalate.

In Italy, recent legislative developments, such as the UNI-PdR 125:2022 certification for gender equality management systems, underscore the growing importance of proactive measures to address the gender gap. While certification is voluntary, companies stand to benefit from incentives such as tax breaks and preferential treatment in procurement processes.

To maximize the effectiveness of whistleblowing mechanisms, companies must prioritize training and awareness initiatives. Employees need to understand the importance of whistleblowing and feel confident that their identities will be protected if they choose to report misconduct. Moreover, designated personnel responsible for handling whistleblowing reports must receive adequate training to ensure fair and thorough investigations.

An integrated approach to compliance, aimed at ensuring that internal procedures, management systems (such as ISO standards), and technical-organizational measures are consistent, effective, and up to date, can build confidence in whistleblowers and ensure that the relevant people – the SB, Privacy Manager, Human Resources, Internal Audit Managers, etc. – can adequately follow up on reports related to gender equality issues.

In conclusion, whistleblowing represents a critical tool in the pursuit of gender equality in the workplace. By fostering transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, whistleblowing channels empower employees to contribute to meaningful change within their organizations. As companies navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape, embracing whistleblowing as part of a broader strategy for promoting gender equality will be essential for driving progress and creating a more equitable future for all.

Legality Whistleblowing software meets all the requirements for compliance with European regulations for the public and private sectors:

✅ Highest level of security on the market ✅ Written and voice, anonymous or confidential whistleblowing ✅ Automatic assignment of whistleblowing reports to managers based on type and possibility to interact with third parties in the platform, such as legal advisors ✅ Intuitive interface for both whistleblowers and whistleblowers ✅ Customizable configuration and graphical appearance based on organizational needs

Protect your business and reputation with Legality Whistleblowing