The number of people raising concerns about their workplace with whistleblowers’ mediation bureau Huis voor Klokkenluiders has increased by 50% in the last year.
The agency, established 10 years ago, said around 700 people contacted them in 2024, partly reflecting greater awareness about its services.
However, around 90% of people who report a problem with their employer experience negative consequences, chairman Cornelis van der Werf told NOS.
They may be ordered not to speak with colleagues, moved to another team or department or even fired, even though whistleblowers are protected by law against reprisals and companies are obliged to have systems in place to report abuses.
“In most cases they’re very conscientious employees who have concerns,” Van der Werf said. “They’ve encountered something that they don’t think is right. Sometimes they’ve already tried to raise the alarm.”
Huis van Klokkeluiders can investigate complaints and sit down with both parties to try to resolve disputes, but it has no regulatory or enforcement powers. It can also provide legal advice to employees.
Van der Werf said plans were in the pipeline to allow it to issue reprimands and fines to rogue employers. “That’s in the works, but our focus is on talking to both sides to solve the problem,” he said.
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