Naive managers enable crime?

Kiwi managers’ desire to think the best of their employees may be contributing to potential fraud, or health and safety problems at work. Jude Mannion, CEO of independent charity Crimestoppers, has just launched a survey to find out why many New Zealand business people are reluctant to introduce whistle-blowing lines into their organisations.

Whistle-blowing is the practice of disclosing to relevant authorities information on mismanagement, corruption, illegal practice or some other wrongdoing.

Mannion says Kiwi managers are sometimes a little naive. “They like to think all their workers are good people – and they probably are – but sometimes people’s circumstances change, people come under pressure and then they make poor decisions.”

Mannion says there are all sorts of reasons why a previously honest employee may start to bend or break the rules for personal benefit. Financial or health concerns can sometimes trigger such changed behaviour.

“Whistle-blowing is about helping people before they really go off the rails.”

Set up in 2009, Crimestoppers provides an anonymous and simple way to pass on information to relevant authorities.

New Zealand legalisation states that employers must provide a way for employees to ‘whistle-blow’. But, unlike practices in many overseas countries, most Kiwi business managers choose not to offer this anonymously.

Mannion also warns that the legal framework around disclosure is changing and many managers are not up to speed with the implications for them.

She says she is interested in discovering whether cultural issues lie behind managers’ reluctance to provide anonymous reporting for staff when it comes to potential fraud, or health and safety concerns.

Mannion says managers need to understand that sometimes people make poor decisions. She also suggests SME owner/managers take steps to normalise the language around whistle-blowing. 

“It could be as simple as putting up a poster saying ‘We’re all in this together. If something doesn’t seem right, just call’.”

Crimestoppers’ easy five-minute survey will remain open until the end of March and all responses will remain confidential. To complete the survey go to: http://researchstudies.co.nz/whistle-blower/