On January 29, NAVEX is hosting the Top 10 Trends in Risk and Compliance webinar. This post is a preview of two of the topics covered in the eBook and webinar: the expanding landscape of whistleblowing and the increasing importance of internal investigations.
Whistleblowers are a cornerstone in uncovering corporate misconduct, and regulators worldwide are making it easier for individuals to report wrongdoing. And companies lacking robust internal compliance systems now face expanding risks, as whistleblower programs like those from the SEC and DOJ gain traction.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) whistleblower program, active since 2011, is a prime example. With over $2.2 billion in awards distributed to date, the SEC incentivizes whistleblowers with confidentiality, anti-retaliation protections and the potential for significant monetary rewards. In FY 2024, the SEC paid $255 million to 47 whistleblowers, demonstrating the ongoing importance of these programs.
Interestingly, whistleblower tips to the SEC have leveled off post-COVID, with approximately 11,000 reports annually over the last two years (excluding outliers). Reports originate globally, with Canada, the UK, India and Australia among the top contributors outside of the U.S. Notably, 38% of whistleblowers receiving awards were external to the organizations they reported on, which includes competitors and market observers.
Now, the newly-launched DOJ...
[co-author: Katherine McGrath]* On July 2, 2025, the Departments of Justice and Health & Human Services announced a joint working group aimed at “strengthening their ongoing collaboration to a...