Whistleblowing
Enhance your team's compliance capabilities with our Whistleblowing Awareness training Course, specifically developed for the unique requirements of Irish businesses.
Whistleblowing eLearning Course
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Overview
Staff Must Be Protected During & After They Blow the Whistle
Legal Island’s Whistleblowing Awareness in the Workplace eLearning course was created in partnership with The Debrief Group. It’s tailored specifically to Irish law and designed to complement an organisation's existing workplace whistleblowing policies.
It is important that your employees understand the importance of whistleblowing awareness in the workplace and the legislation that exists in Ireland to protect both employees and employers in the case of protected disclosures and speaking up against wrongdoing in the workplace.
What's Included
What's Included: Whistleblowing Awareness
This course was designed specifically for Irish businesses by a team of whistleblowing experts.
The purpose of this course is to raise all your employees’ awareness and protect staff from any abuse or mistreatment during or after they make a protected disclosure.
Topics covered include:
- What a whistleblower is
- Whistleblowing legislation and the law
- The difference between grievances and protected disclosures
- How to make a protected disclosure
Our updated version of this course includes all recent changes made to whistleblowing legislation in Ireland following the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022.
Should you have a particular need to brand or tailor any of our courses to your specific requirements, that is no problem at all. We offer a full bespoke service in-house. If you have any questions or queries, please feel free to contact our eLearning Client Executive, Glen Bell - glen@legal-island.com
Background
Understanding Whistleblowing
What is Whistleblowing?
According to the Workplace Relations Commission, “Whistleblowing is the term used when a worker raises a concern about a relevant wrongdoing such as possible fraud, crime, danger, or failure to comply with any legal obligation that came to the worker’s attention in connection with the worker’s employment.”
The Irish Government introduced the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 to protect the rights of whistleblowers. This legislation was amended in 2022 with the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 extending the protections offered to whistleblowers in Ireland.
What is Improper Conduct?
It is important that your employees are aware of what is considered inappropriate conduct in the workplace. Legal Island’s Whistleblowing Awareness Training will provide in-depth training on this.
Examples of improper workplace conduct include:
- Harassment, bullying, and discrimination
- Unethical conduct or gossiping and rumour spreading
- Violation of company policies
- Health and safety violations
- Violence and threats
- Dishonesty and confidentiality breaches
- Corruption
- Inappropriate communication
What Does Not Constitute Improper Conduct?
While it is important to be aware of what is considered inappropriate workplace conduct, it is also important to know what cannot be considered improper conduct. Examples include:
- Personality differences and minor disputes
- Constructive criticism
- Office politics, such as networking and favouritism
- Non-disruptive personal habits
- Personal preferences regarding things such as clothing choice and work-life balance
- Appropriate and respectful expression of personal beliefs
- Cultural differences
Importance of Training
Why is Whistleblowing Awareness training important for employees in Ireland?
Historically and culturally, society actively discouraged employees from speaking up in public about any type of wrongdoing within the workplace. To do so often resulted in some form of punishment, such as sacking, demotion, or transfer to a different department or location.
The Irish government recognised the need for change and put in place legislation to protect the rights of whistleblowers, so employees and employers could speak up against wrongdoing, misconduct, and corruption in the workplace without fear of retaliation.
It is mandatory and highly recommended that every employer ensures all staff are aware of the legislation surrounding whistleblower protection and their rights regarding whistleblowing.
Benefits of Whistleblowing
Whistleblowing is about creating a culture of transparency. Employees who make qualified disclosures ultimately protect an organisation, its customers, employees, and beneficiaries by identifying potential harm.
Whistleblowing benefits include:
- Lives being saved
- Greater company integrity and ethical behaviour
- Unethical business practices being stopped
- Mitigating environmental harm
- Avoiding cases of harassment or abuse in the workplace
The business benefits can also include:
- Exposure to risk being reduced
- Raised awareness of illegal practices by employees and employers
- Enhanced corporate social responsibility
- Opportunity to address problems at an early stage before loss of profits, customers, or reputation
- An open and transparent workplace that promotes professional development and best practices
Who Needs Whistleblowing Training?
Whistleblowing experts advise that every employee within your organisation should undertake whistleblower training.
They state that whistleblowing awareness training should be completed on day one of employment and then refreshed regularly to ensure all staff know their rights regarding whistleblowing.
Course Duration
How long does Whistleblowing Awareness Training take?
The course will take no longer than 45 minutes to complete including an assessment. Each member of staff will receive their own personalised certificate upon successful completion.
Key Statistics
Why learn with Legal Island?
We take huge pride in the training we deliver across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Our key statistics show:
97%
of users said they found the courses beneficial for their organisation
96%
of users said they found the courses convenient and easy to use
96%
of users said their knowledge of the compliance topic area improved
96%
of users said they would recommend our eLearning courses to other organisations
750,000+
hours of training and course content delivered
200,000+
employees across the island of Ireland have now benefitted from our services
FAQs
Got a question about our Whistleblowing Awareness Training?
Chances are at this stage you have a couple questions. If you can’t find your answer below, we encourage you to ask questions directly and you can call us anytime.
Who should participate in whistleblowing training?
This all-staff training course is designed to raise awareness of whistleblowing so that all members of staff understand they have a right to speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace and the law that is in place to protect them when they do so.
Training ensures that staff are aware of what constitutes whistleblowing, how to recognise the difference between a grievance and a disclosure and the steps they must take when reporting concerns. This not only mitigates risks but also demonstrates your organisation’s unwavering commitment to ethical practice.
What is the duration of this whistleblowing awareness course for employees in Ireland?
The course takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, including an assessment. It is self-paced, allowing employees to stop and resume as needed, making it easy to fit into busy schedules. Upon successful completion, each staff member will receive a personalised certificate for their records.
When should whistleblowing awareness training be provided to all staff?
Whistleblowing training should be provided to all staff at the start of their employment and revised regularly through refresher courses.
Regular updates are crucial to ensure that employees stay informed about evolving regulations and best practices, helping to protect your organisation from whistleblowing claims.
Can this course be customised?
Yes, our courses can be fully customised to meet your organisation’s specific needs. We offer an in-house bespoke service, with a local and dedicated account manager, that allows you to brand the course and tailor its content to align with your organisation’s requirements.
How much does this all-staff training cost?
This eLearning course is designed specifically for purchase for all staff, ensuring consistent training across your organisation. The standard rate is €40 per staff member. However, we may offer discounts based on the total number of employees you have. If your organisation is interested in more than one course, we are happy to discuss a package deal.
For tailored training solutions, including the option to integrate your in-house documents, please contact Glen Bell at glen@legal-island.com. Glen will be happy to discuss your specific needs and provide a personalised quote.
Is this training content tailored specifically to legislation and guidance in Ireland?
Yes, this course is specifically tailored to Irish legislation and guidance, which is a top priority for our customers. We also offer versions of this course designed for employees based in Northern Ireland and the UK, ensuring compliance with their respective legal frameworks. All our eLearning courses are crafted to meet the unique requirements of the jurisdiction they serve.
How is the training delivered?
This interactive eLearning training course is delivered entirely online, providing flexibility and convenience. There is no need to come together in groups - Employees can complete the course independently and at their own pace, and it is accessible across multiple devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.
Is this course instructor-led or self-paced?
This is a self-paced eLearning course, allowing your staff to progress through the material at their own convenience. This flexibility makes it easy to fit the training into their busy schedules.
How can I purchase an eLearning course for my staff and get them set up?
To purchase an eLearning course, please contact Glen Bell - glen@legal-island.com for information on prices and discounted options based on the number of staff you have. We’ll be happy to discuss your organisation's training needs further.
Once you’ve made the purchase, access can be arranged within 1 hour (depending on your training needs), and remain open for a 12-month period. We will work closely with you to meet your deadlines.
We do not require any staff details upfront. We’ll provide all the necessary information for distribution to your workforce, ensuring a smooth transition into the course. Additionally, we provide full technical support and are available to assist with any accessibility issues your staff might encounter.
I have a workforce across different areas of the UK and Ireland, can you provide training for all of them?
Yes, we can provide courses for staff in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and even globally.
Are certificates provided at the end of the course?
Yes. An end-of-course assessment is included to ensure your staff understand key components of the training. Once your staff have completed the course and achieved the minimum pass score in the assessment, each member of your team will automatically receive their own personalised certificate.
Can I monitor staff activity and completion rates?
Yes. We can provide you with ‘Account Manager’ rights, which will enable you to view all staff information, completion rates and completion dates. You can also download this information to keep on file as part of your audit reporting.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive reporting tool, find out how you can streamline your company-wide training, with our learning management system, AppLI LMS by visiting https://legal-island.ie/elearning/appli-lms
What are the benefits of Legal Island’s eLearning training for your organisation?
Reduce Risk by:
• Ensuring your company data is protected to the highest standard and fully ISO27001 compliant
• Receiving jurisdiction-specific training in key areas, ensuring your staff understand their duties and responsibilities in compliance with the law
• Including a comprehensive reporting dashboard delivering an audit trail to strengthen your defence in any industrial dispute, therefore protecting your company’s reputation in the marketplace and in the eyes of key stakeholders and customers
Improve Efficiencies by:
• Allowing instant access to staff completion reports, stored in one place – Resulting in a reduction in the amount of time spent on your compliance record keeping
• Being accessible 24/7 – whether you have staff working in the office or remotely, the platform can be accessed from a mobile device, laptop, tablet or desktop. This means that staff can tailor training completion around their work schedule
• Enabling employees to self-enrol, removing the admin burden from HR
Reduce Costs by:
• Enabling you to train all staff in multiple locations, simultaneously, without the financial impact of travelling or coming together in groups, saving you money on your training budget
• Mitigating against profit-zapping fines by providing your organisation with the most robust level of protection in key compliance area
Request a demo
Free demo of this eLearning course
To get a FREE demo of this eLearning course on behalf of your organisation or to discuss your training needs further, simply complete the form below and a member of our eLearning team will be in touch:
