Build a confidential reporting system and ethics investigation workflow for your organization. Covers anonymous intake, case triage, investigation protocols, regulatory obligations, and retaliation prevention.
Scanned 5/30/2026
Install via CLI
openskills install GeorgeDoors888/GB-Power-Market-JJ# Whistleblower & Ethics Hotline Framework
Build a confidential reporting system and ethics investigation workflow for your organization. Covers anonymous intake, case triage, investigation protocols, regulatory obligations, and retaliation prevention.
## What This Skill Does
When activated, guide the user through:
1. **Intake Channel Design** — Set up anonymous reporting (web form, hotline, email alias, physical drop box). Ensure no metadata leaks caller identity. Recommend third-party platforms (EthicsPoint, NAVEX, AllVoices) vs self-hosted.
2. **Case Triage Matrix**
| Severity | Examples | Response SLA | Escalation |
|----------|----------|-------------|------------|
| Critical | Fraud >$50K, safety hazard, harassment by exec | 24 hours | Board/Audit Committee + outside counsel |
| High | Policy violation, discrimination, data breach | 72 hours | General Counsel + CHRO |
| Medium | Conflict of interest, expense abuse | 5 business days | Compliance Officer |
| Low | Policy questions, minor conduct | 10 business days | HR Business Partner |
3. **Investigation Protocol**
- Preserve evidence before interviewing
- Separation of duties: investigator ≠ accused's manager
- Interview template: open questions, avoid leading, document verbatim
- Chain of custody for digital evidence
- Timeline reconstruction framework
- Findings memo template (facts only, no opinion)
4. **Regulatory Compliance by Jurisdiction**
- **US**: SOX Section 301 (public companies must have anonymous channel), Dodd-Frank (SEC bounty program, anti-retaliation), False Claims Act (qui tam)
- **EU**: EU Whistleblower Directive 2019/1937 (mandatory for 50+ employees, 3-month feedback deadline)
- **UK**: Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA), FCA whistleblowing rules
- **Australia**: Corporations Act 2001 Part 9.4AAA
- **Canada**: PSDPA (federal public sector), provincial variations
5. **Retaliation Prevention Checklist**
- Document reporter's current performance rating, comp, role BEFORE investigation
- No adverse actions (termination, transfer, demotion, schedule change) without compliance sign-off
- Monitor for subtle retaliation: exclusion from meetings, workload changes, peer pressure
- Mandatory retaliation training for all managers annually
- Exit interview flag: "Were you ever discouraged from reporting concerns?"
6. **Board Reporting Template**
- Quarterly: # reports received, # open, # closed, avg resolution time, category breakdown
- Annual: trends, benchmarking vs industry (NAVEX Hotline Benchmark Report), policy changes made, training completion rates
7. **Policy Document Generator**
Output a complete Whistleblower Protection Policy covering:
- Purpose and scope
- Protected disclosures definition
- Reporting channels
- Confidentiality and anonymity guarantees
- Investigation process overview
- Non-retaliation commitment
- Record retention (7 years minimum)
- Annual review clause
8. **10-Industry Benchmarks**
| Industry | Avg Reports per 100 Employees | Top Category | Compliance Focus |
|----------|-------------------------------|-------------|-----------------|
| Financial Services | 1.4 | Fraud/Theft | SOX, BSA/AML, FCA |
| Healthcare | 1.8 | Patient Safety | HIPAA, False Claims Act |
| Manufacturing | 0.9 | Safety/Environment | OSHA, EPA |
| Technology | 0.7 | HR/Discrimination | SOX (if public), GDPR |
| Government | 1.2 | Waste/Abuse | Inspector General, PSDPA |
| Education | 0.8 | Title IX, Safety | Clery Act, Title IX |
| Retail | 1.1 | Theft/HR | FLSA, state wage laws |
| Energy | 1.0 | Safety/Environment | NRC, EPA, OSHA |
| Legal/Professional | 0.6 | Conflicts of Interest | Bar rules, SOX |
| Construction | 1.3 | Safety/Wage | OSHA, Davis-Bacon |
## Output Format
Deliver as structured markdown with clear sections. Include jurisdiction-specific callouts based on user's location. Provide copy-paste policy language where appropriate.
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*Built by AfrexAI — AI agent context packs for every business function.*
*Browse all packs: https://afrexai-cto.github.io/context-packs/*
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