ISO 37008 “Internal investigations of organizations” is a key standard that helps organizations manage internal investigations effectively, promoting transparency and accountability. It provides a framework for handling complaints and misconduct allegations, essential for maintaining ethical practices and strong internal controls.
Ethicontrol’s platform fully aligns with ISO 37008, ensuring compliance with its requirements for managing investigations. Our solution offers customizable features, secure communication, and efficient case management to handle whistleblower reports with integrity and confidentiality.
In this article, we’ll highlight the key provisions of ISO 37008 and explain how Ethicontrol supports organizations in meeting these standards, enhancing internal investigation processes, and maintaining high ethical standards.
To fully comply with ISO 37008, companies should follow these key steps:
✔️ Develop a clear internal investigation policy aligned with ISO 37008.
✔️ Ensure independence and impartiality in the investigation process.
✔️ Define the roles and responsibilities of investigators and decision-makers.
✔️ Appoint a dedicated investigation team or assign trained personnel.
✔️ Establish clear criteria for initiating investigations.
✔️ Define procedures for handling whistleblower reports and anonymous complaints.
✔️ Implement a standardized case management system to track investigations.
✔️ Ensure evidence collection methods are thorough, legal, and properly documented.
✔️ Protect whistleblowers' identities and confidentiality throughout the process.
✔️ Ensure compliance with data protection laws when handling investigation records.
✔️ Maintain a secure document storage system with restricted access.
✔️ Align internal policies with international anti-corruption laws and regulations.
✔️ Conduct investigations without bias or conflicts of interest.
✔️ Ensure all involved parties have equal opportunities to present evidence.
✔️ Base conclusions on facts, evidence, and legal principles.
✔️ Provide clear rules for disciplinary actions based on investigation results.
✔️ Regularly analyze misconduct trends to prevent recurring issues.
✔️ Implement ethics and compliance training programs for employees.
✔️ Develop preventive controls to reduce risks of fraud and corruption.
✔️ Establish a system for monitoring and improving investigation processes.
✔️ Document all investigation steps, findings, and decisions.
✔️ Ensure investigation reports are accurate, complete, and well-documented.
✔️ Provide transparent communication about investigation outcomes when appropriate.
✔️ Implement a review system to assess and improve investigation procedures.
By following this checklist, companies can ensure compliance with ISO 37008, build a trustworthy investigation framework, and strengthen their ethical culture.
Ethicontrol provides tools and processes that align with ISO 37008 requirements for internal investigations. Here’s how it helps organizations meet the standard:
Ethicontrol offers a centralized platform for managing investigations. It helps organizations document every step of the process, from receiving a complaint to closing the case. This ensures transparency, consistency, and compliance with ISO 37008 guidelines.
The platform includes secure whistleblowing channels that allow employees to report misconduct anonymously. It protects whistleblower identities and ensures that sensitive data is only accessible to authorized personnel, as required by ISO 37008.
Ethicontrol's whistleblowing channels
To maintain fairness, Ethicontrol allows companies to assign cases to independent investigators. Role-based access ensures that only relevant personnel can handle specific cases, reducing the risk of conflicts of interest.
Ethicontrol provides customizable workflows that help organizations follow a structured approach to investigations.
Companies can define clear steps, timelines, and responsibilities, ensuring that all investigations meet ISO 37008 standards.
The platform enables organizations to collect, store, and manage evidence securely.
It supports file uploads, case notes, and audit trails, ensuring that all documentation is properly maintained for compliance and legal purposes.
ISO 37008 emphasizes confidentiality and legal compliance. Ethicontrol ensures that all case data is stored securely, with access controls that align with data protection laws such as GDPR.
Ethicontrol automatically tracks and logs all investigation activities.
This provides a clear audit trail, making it easy to review case progress, generate reports, and demonstrate compliance with ISO 37008.
Companies can analyze case trends and identify recurring issues using Ethicontrol’s reporting tools. This helps organizations improve their investigation processes and take preventive actions to reduce risks.
By using Ethicontrol, companies can implement an ISO 37008-compliant investigation system that is fair, secure, and transparent. The platform helps organizations manage cases efficiently while protecting whistleblowers and maintaining ethical business practices.