Whistleblowing & EU Directive glossary

Frequently asked questions

What does the EU Whistleblower Directive mean in plain English?

EU Directive 2019/1937 requires every company with 50+ employees to set up a confidential way for employees and other persons to report breaches of EU law, acknowledge those reports within 7 days, respond within 3 months, and protect the reporter from any retaliation. National laws in each EU member state implement the directive with country-specific fines and procedures.

Who is considered a whistleblower under EU law?

Any person who reports breaches of EU or national law that they learned about in a work-related context, current and former employees, applicants, suppliers, contractors, shareholders, volunteers, and members of administrative or supervisory bodies. The protection applies regardless of payment status or whether the report is ultimately substantiated, as long as the reporter had reasonable grounds to believe it was true.