Over 40% of UK employees report observing illegal or inappropriate behaviour at work

Research finds workplace misconduct is rife but underreported, as employees don't trust their organisation to fairly manage whistleblowing

As the number of whistleblowing cases continues to rise, research finds that half (52%) of employees are now more aware of the importance of whistleblowing than before due to media reporting on high profile cases. However mistrust around possible retaliation and reliable process still holds many back from reporting workplace misconduct.

That’s according to a survey of 2,000 employees commissioned by Personio, Europe’s leading HR software company for SMEs. 

With 43% of employees having seen or experienced some kind of inappropriate or illegal behaviour at work, the research reveals that workplace misconduct is common, and often unchecked.

One in ten (10%) employees have witnessed or experienced sexual harassment at work, but nearly half (49%) of these did not report it. Similarly, almost one third (30%) have seen or experienced bullying at work, with 44% of these not reporting it.

Max Specht, Workplace Trends Expert at Personio, commented: “The extent of workplace misconduct is worrying, and the rate at which these go unreported is even more so. It’s clear that having whistleblowing channels in place is only one small part of the puzzle to make workplaces safer. A workplace culture that prioritises trust and transparency is critical. People need to understand that these reporting processes exist, feel safe using them, and have trust in their organisation to listen to and act on their concerns.”  

The data points to the role that culture plays in creating a space where people feel they can safely report issues via the appropriate channels. 

43% of employees feel worried about retaliation or retribution if they were to report an issue, and only 56% of employees feel confident that sensitive workplace misconduct situations would be treated properly and fairly by their organisation. 

Concerns are eased in organisations where people trust leadership to listen to and support them. Employees in higher trust organisations are more likely to have reported inappropriate or illegal behaviours (69%) compared to those that don't (58%). 

But, trust within organisations is clearly lacking. Only half (52%) of employees say they trust their senior leadership, and on the flip side, one in ten (10%) strongly distrust their leadership. Meanwhile, three in ten (30%) employees believe more would be achieved if they went to the media about workplace misconduct, rather than to their own management team. 

Crucially, putting in place anonymous ways to blow the whistle would also help ease employees’ fears. Nearly one in five (18%) don’t believe that their organisation would protect their anonymity if they reported workplace misconduct, and the same number (18%) do not feel there is an accessible or anonymous process in place at work to report misconduct.

Max Specht continued: “Whistleblowing carries a lot of stigma, but it shouldn’t. It’s about protecting people and businesses, which is incredibly important. And, as demonstrated in recent news stories, failing to appropriately report or manage reports of misconduct can result in extremely damaging consequences both on a personal level and for entire organisations. 

“As well as leaning on government guidance and support, businesses should themselves work to build the kind of workplace culture that fosters employee trust and goes above and beyond to put their safety right at the heart of their organisation.”

For businesses, this research highlights a clear imperative to build a culture of trust and transparency, that empowers employees to report and act on inappropriate behaviour. The implementation of anonymous whistleblowing processes will be a key part of this reporting process, but also in allowing businesses to handle cases fairly and effectively.

Press enquiries:

Personio SE & Co. KG

Matthew Tubbs

Communications Lead 

Tel: + 44 (0)7788163261

E-Mail: press@personio.de

UK & Ireland - Firstlight Group 

Ellie Rust / Alex McKie

Tel: + 44 (0)7860650103 / + 44 (0)7943457798

E-Mail: personioteam@firstlightgroup.io

About the research:

Survey fieldwork was undertaken on behalf of Personio by Opinium, with fieldwork conducted between 02.02.24 - 07.02.24. The survey sample was 2000 employees and 250 business decision makers in the United Kingdom across a range of organisation types. 

About Personio:

Personio is the all-in-one HR platform that unlocks the power of people for small and medium-sized organizations. Trusted by over 12,000 organizations that together manage more than 1 million employees, Personio drives productivity for HR teams, managers and employees by improving HR processes and boosting employee experience. Our ever-evolving product makes Personio a clear choice for organizations looking to upgrade their people platform for now and the future. 

Learn more about our product, or how to join our teams in Munich, London, Madrid, Dublin, Berlin, Barcelona, New York, Amsterdam and remotely, here: www.personio.com