Is your organisation prepared for integrity violations? Test it with the IntegrityGuide
Integrity in the workplace is important for the trust and reputation of an organisation, but is your organisation prepared for integrity violations? How do you know if your organisation is well prepared for possible integrity violations? And what steps can you take to further professionalize the integrity policy?
The program House for Whistleblowers offers a solution for this: the IntegrityGuide. This free tool helps organisations gain insight into their integrity policy and provides advice on possible areas for improvement. In this article, we explain who this tool is for, why it is important, and how you can use it to take your organisation's integrity policy to the next level.
Who is the Integrity Guide for?
The Integrity Guide is particularly suitable for employees who have a coordinating role in the field of integrity, such as integrity officers, compliance officers or HR managers. These professionals are involved in creating and maintaining a safe and ethical working environment on a daily basis. The tool offers a structured way to evaluate the current integrity policy of the organisation and to identify possible improvements.
Although the tool was originally designed for larger organisations, smaller organisations with fewer than 250 employees can also use the Integrity Guide. However, some recommendations may be less relevant for smaller organisations. The most important thing is that you as an organisation are consciously monitoring and improving integrity measures, regardless of size.
Why is the Integrity Guide important?
The importance of a good integrity policy cannot be overemphasized. Integrity violations, such as fraud, discrimination or conflicts of interest, can seriously damage an organisation's reputation and lead to legal complications. In addition, an integrity violation can negatively affect the working atmosphere, resulting in reduced productivity and increased staff turnover. But how do you know whether your organisation's policy is well-designed? The Integrity Guide provides insight into your current policy and advice for improvement.
The House for Whistleblowers emphasizes that integrity is not only a legal obligation, but also a moral responsibility. The Integrity Guide helps organisations to deal with integrity not only reactively, but also proactively. By using the tool, you gain insight into the current state of your integrity policy and what measures can still be taken to prevent abuses.
The Integrity Guide, how does it work and how does it prepare your organisation for integrity violations?
The Integrity Guide consists of 35 questions, divided into seven themes: leadership & strategy, values & standards, rules & procedures, personnel & culture, reporting & enforcement, communication & accountability, and planning, coordination & assurance. These themes are based on the 'Integrity Infrastructure', a coherent approach to integrity management that is suitable for both government and business.
After completing the questionnaire, you will receive a report with an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of your organisation's integrity policy. The report contains five components:
- The overall score of the integrity policy.
- The score on the seven integrity themes.
- The degree of uncertainty expressed in the number of 'don't know' answers.
- The score expressed in three control types.
- The score on a number of integrity measures deemed (at least) necessary.
This report not only provides insight, but also concrete advice for improvements. This can help your organisation prepare for integrity violations. It can serve as a starting point for further discussions within the organisation and help to develop a shared vision.
Try the Integrity Guide Yourself!
Do you want to test how your organisation is doing in terms of integrity? Then try the IntegrityGuideCompleting the questionnaire only takes 15 to 30 minutes and provides valuable insights that can help you further professionalize the integrity policy within your organisation.
Remember: integrity is not a one-time effort, but a continuous process of evaluation and improvement. With the right tools and a proactive attitude, you as an HR manager or compliance officer can have a positive impact on the culture and work environment of your organisation.
Confidential advisor indispensable in integrity policy.
A confidential integrity counselor is an important part of the integrity policy. This role provides a confidential environment for employees to report integrity issues and undesirable behaviour. The confidential counselor contributes to a transparent, ethical work environment and advises on improving policy and procedures.
For organisations with more than 50 employees, appointing a confidential counsellor is also a step in meeting the legal obligation for a whistleblowing scheme. This scheme is intended to protect and support employees who report abuses. Even if a whistleblower tool is already available, the route to the confidential counsellor is often more accessible and informal. An external confidential counsellor is often seen by employees as more independent than a tool.
Are you considering appointing an external confidential counselor to promote integrity and meet these legal obligations? Visit our page hire an external confidential counselor en schedule an introductory meeting for more information. We are happy to provide advice without any obligation.