A plain-English guide to the US rules behind whistleblower hotlines, and how Whistleblower Line supports each one.
Audit committees must set up procedures to receive, keep, and handle complaints about accounting, internal controls, and auditing. Employees must be able to raise these concerns confidentially and anonymously.
Anonymous phone and web intake. Accounting concerns route straight to the audit committee chair. Records kept in a secure, searchable archive.
Protect your people. The anti-retaliation provision (18 U.S.C. §1514A) prohibits covered companies, their officers, contractors, and others from retaliating against employees who report certain fraud or securities-law violations, internally or externally.
Retaliation is its own report category, so concerns about payback are tracked and routed like any other case.
No one may stop a person from talking directly to the SEC about a possible securities violation. That includes enforcing or threatening to enforce a confidentiality agreement.
Our reporting pages remind staff they can always go to regulators directly.
Prosecutors ask whether a company has an anonymous reporting channel, whether staff know and trust it, and how the company prevents retaliation.
Awareness pulse surveys, manager training, anti-retaliation tracking, and metrics you can show a prosecutor or your board.
Organizations should take reasonable steps to have and publicize a system where employees can report concerns or seek guidance without fear of retaliation, which may include anonymous or confidential reporting.
Anonymous phone and web reporting, plus a launch kit with posters and custom QR codes so the system is publicized, not just installed.
Whistleblower protections for private employers differ from state to state, and some industries have their own rules.
We do not give legal advice. We give you the channel, the records, and the reports your lawyer will ask for.
Private companies are not subject to SOX Section 301, but many adopt similar practices to meet DOJ expectations, contract requirements, or general risk management. Review the requirements that apply to your company where you operate.
Use it to check your program today. Whistleblower Line covers the channel, routing, records, and reporting.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules change and depend on your company, industry, and location. Review your program with qualified counsel.