NAVEX, the global leader in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) management software and services, has announced the launch of "La conformité en France : Le guide ultime" to help organizations navigate the complex French regulatory landscape. The guide addresses the crucial role compliance programs play in ensuring regulatory adherence and cultivating ethical corporate cultures, with whistleblowing serving as a key component of these efforts.
Jan Stappers, director of regulatory solutions at NAVEX, emphasized the importance of effective whistleblowing channels, stating that organizations risk missing opportunities if they lack proper mechanisms for reporting potential risks or dangers. He noted that while whistleblowing represents the best source of information about actual or potential misconduct, many companies currently engage in compliance checking exercises rather than adopting a more integrated approach to risk management.
The first section of the guide provides a detailed overview of France's current whistleblowing landscape, including cultural context and comparisons with other global systems. Data analysis reveals that French reporting levels are increasing but remain low compared to European standards, with French reports being less likely to be anonymous and taking longer to process than those from other countries. The guide is available for download at https://www.navex.com/fr-fr/.
Notable differences highlighted in the NAVEX data show France has lower whistleblowing rates than Germany or the European average, though French reports are more likely to be justified—with over half proving true compared to only one-third in Germany. French reports are significantly less likely to be anonymous than practices common in other countries and regions, with only half of French alerts made anonymously compared to over two-thirds in the United Kingdom.
The second part of the guide presents the French regulatory framework, focusing on critical compliance challenges and extraterritorial issues that prove particularly difficult for companies to master. Broadly speaking, compliance with all existing regulations has become a major challenge, with many companies lacking the bandwidth to track the evolving regulatory landscape effectively.
HR-related issues dominate French reporting, with combined HR, harassment, and discrimination complaints accounting for nearly two out of every three reports to French companies in 2023. Conflict of interest reports ranked as the fourth most frequent problem, representing 10% of all reports. The comprehensive nature of this guidance comes at a critical time when organizations face increasing pressure to maintain robust compliance programs that address both domestic and international regulatory requirements.
