One in five employees of European multinational companies say they won’t blow the whistle if they suspect a case of fraud, bribery or corruption in their organisation, according to a new study.
The survey, Fraud Risk Mitigation in 13 European Countries, shows that UK employees would be the most comfortable about dobbing in their companies (86%) while employees in France (39%) feel the least at ease about blowing the whistle in the workplace for fear of reprisals.
Ernst & Young interviewed 1,300 employees of multinational companies in eight western European and five central and eastern European countries—100 respondents in each country—asking how they thought anti-fraud measures were implemented within their employer organisations.
Only 38% of respondents are aware of a whistle-blower hotline in their workplace, highlighting the lack of education and awareness in many companies. UK respondents showed the greatest awareness (72%) and Slovakian the least (27%).
John Smart, fraud investigation and dispute services partner at Ernst & Young, says: “The UK has developed a very strong reporting culture, based on an anonymous route to inform wrongdoing, which is supported by law,
