“Operating ethically has become a competitive advantage. Companies will be increasingly scrutinized by their stakeholders and this will be a decisive factor for the consumption of products and services.” With this sentence, Cassiano Machado, Partner and Director of consulting firm ICTS Protiviti, summarizes the key motivating factor for companies to look for independent monitoring mechanisms.

According to him, in the last five years his company saw a 45% increase in the demand of outsourced consulting systems projects, commonly referred to as “independent ethics line.” This type of system guarantees an open space for people inside and outside the company to communicate acts they consider unethical or illicit, thereby contributing to the maintenance of healthier business practices.

“An independent channel helps companies to truly demonstrate their intention to operate in accordance with the rules,” explained Machado. ICTS Protiviti has vast experience on the subject, with over 250 whistleblowing channel operations implemented in Brazil and other countries.

The search for measures and actions that respond to society’s burning issues regarding ethics, transparency and integrity in public – private relationships has been a decisive factor in the perception of companies and organizations. And, in this regard, contributions from the services of an independent channel are even greater. “A decade ago, the whistleblowing channel was suspiciously viewed – it was a snitch. Today it functions as an intelligence tool within organizations, identifying processes and conduct that need to be improved,” added Machado.

Building an efficient ethics line

The ethics line is an exclusive and confidential channel. And, for the operation to be efficient, clear parameters are established to guide the operational routine – making it clear for various stakeholder groups (senior leaders, middle managers and employees) what the purpose of the tool is.

For that, it is fundamental that compliance policies at companies and organizations are strengthened through intensive efforts to reach out to the maximum number of people through communication. Here, Machado is categorical: “Ethics is taught and learned. We try to get the company’s key leaders “An independent channel helps companies to truly demonstrate their intention to operate in accordance with the rules,” explained Machado. ICTS Protiviti has vast experience on the subject, with over 250 whistleblowing channel operations implemented in Brazil and other countries.