If you want employees to speak up, show that you will listen

Effective speak-up procedures help boards to understand and improve their organisational culture. But employees won’t come forward unless they feel supported.

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Corporate scandals have highlighted the need for appropriate oversight by boards seeking to ensure the stability and sustainability of the businesses they run. Indeed, the new UK Corporate Governance Code cites this as a core principle: “The board should establish the company’s purpose, values and strategy, and satisfy itself that these and its culture are aligned.”
In a recent survey, the Institute of Business Ethics (IBE) asked boards how they were currently assuring themselves that they understood their corporate culture. At number one position in their response was "speak up and whistleblowing data", highlighting its importance a
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