• Entry
  • Reader's guide
  • Entries A-Z
  • Subject index
icon backReturn to Entries

Hotlines and Helplines

Hotlines and helplines (also known as ethics hotlines) are organizational systems—generally Internet, phone, or paper based—that allow people to denunciate illegal and immoral activities conducted against an organization and protect at the same time the identity of the whistle-blower. These tools are generally activated by corporations but in some cases also by governmental organizations such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Uses of Ethics Hotlines

Ethics hotlines are recommended to companies of any size and geographical location by top institutions and international anticorruption prescriptions such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Good Practice Guidance on Internal Controls, Ethics and Compliance, the International Chamber of Commerce Ethics and Compliance Training Book, and the U.S. Foreign Corruption Practices Act.

Although since ancient times pecuniary compensations were used ...

    • Loading...
    locked icon

    Sign in to access this content

    Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

    • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
    • Read modern, diverse business cases
    • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles