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Companies’ Use of Whistle-Blowing to Detect Fraud: An Examination of Corporate Whistle-Blowing Policies

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  • Gladys Lee
  • Neil Fargher

Abstract

In order to provide an effective whistle-blowing system, it is expected that companies would provide employees with a high level of disclosure regarding the whistle-blowing process. This study investigates variation in the extent of whistle-blowing disclosures. As a measure of whistle-blowing implementation, this study further examines the provision of a hotline channel. The results suggest that the extent of whistle-blowing disclosures is positively associated with the permissibility of anonymous reporting and organisational support for whistle-blowing, the number of external directors on the audit committee, and the existence of concentrated shareholdings. The mere existence of whistle-blowing disclosures could simply be symbolic. The findings also indicate a greater likelihood of the provision of hotlines when companies are larger in size, have a higher level of current inventory, are cross-listed in the US, and permit anonymous reporting. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Gladys Lee & Neil Fargher, 2013. "Companies’ Use of Whistle-Blowing to Detect Fraud: An Examination of Corporate Whistle-Blowing Policies," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 283-295, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:114:y:2013:i:2:p:283-295
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-012-1348-9
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    3. Waymond Rodgers & Arne Söderbom & Andrés Guiral, 2015. "Corporate Social Responsibility Enhanced Control Systems Reducing the Likelihood of Fraud," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 131(4), pages 871-882, November.
    4. Benjamin Florian Siggelkow & Jan Trockel & Oliver Dieterle, 2018. "An inspection game of internal audit and the influence of whistle-blowing," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 88(7), pages 883-914, September.
    5. Esther Pittroff, 2016. "Whistle-blowing regulation in different corporate governance systems: an analysis of the regulation approaches from the view of path dependence theory," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 20(4), pages 703-727, December.
    6. Gregory D. Saxton & Daniel G. Neely, 2019. "The Relationship Between Sarbanes–Oxley Policies and Donor Advisories in Nonprofit Organizations," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(2), pages 333-351, August.
    7. Lin, Xiaowei & Li, Ao & Xu, Yonghao & Ding, Zijun, 2023. "Does internal whistleblowing build more socially responsible firms？," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 197-214.
    8. Lin, Xiaowei & Ding, Zijun & Chen, Aihua & Shi, Huaizhi, 2022. "Internal whistleblowing and stock price crash risk," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    9. Eugene Soltes, 2020. "Paper Versus Practice: A Field Investigation of Integrity Hotlines," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(2), pages 429-472, May.
    10. Yunmei Wu & Benjamin Rooij, 2021. "Compliance Dynamism: Capturing the Polynormative and Situational Nature of Business Responses to Law," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 579-591, January.
    11. Ridha Chakroun & Frédéric Teulon, 2014. "Whistleblowers in the pharmaceutical industry: tragic hero, black sheep or alter ego ?," Working Papers 2014-118, Department of Research, Ipag Business School.
    12. Gladys Lee & Esther Pittroff & Michael J. Turner, 2020. "Is a Uniform Approach to Whistle-Blowing Regulation Effective? Evidence from the United States and Germany," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 163(3), pages 553-576, May.
    13. Erica Harris & Christine Petrovits & Michelle H. Yetman, 2017. "Why Bad Things Happen to Good Organizations: The Link Between Governance and Asset Diversions in Public Charities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 149-166, November.
    14. Elka Johansson & Peter Carey, 2016. "Detecting Fraud: The Role of the Anonymous Reporting Channel," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 139(2), pages 391-409, December.
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