Listening to staff is a fundamental part of the human resources function. Only with clear communication will the business know if something is – or isn’t – working well. While this may seem obvious, recently-published data suggests European organisations are overlooking one key communication channel; whistleblowing. NAVEX Global’s 2020 Regional Whistleblowing Hotline Benchmark Report* reveals that European organisations have the lowest overall whistleblowing reporting rate globally, with only 0.5 reports received for every 100 employees. This indicates businesses in the region don’t have established or effective whistleblowing practices as the norm. This is a concerning finding, as all teams, including HR, should actively be embracing reporters as an early warning system for potential issues. It’s even more important this year, given the challenges the workforce is facing due to disruption brought about by the pandemic, and the increasing pressure on businesses to demonstrate they’re ethical, diverse and sustainable.