147: Protect Your Business From Feeling the Heat with Hotlines - a podcast by Rea & Associates

Businesses need to be extra vigilant these days. From fraud and sexual harassment issues to compliance and safety concerns, there are so many reasons for a business owner to lay awake at night.
Today’s guest is Ray Dunkle, president of Red Flag Reporting, a hotline provider based out of the Akron/Canton area. Hotlines are reportedly the most effective way to deter fraud and other types of unethical behavior in the workplace. And with the #MeToo movement continuing to bring awareness to a widespread and under-addressed issue, something like this can be a really great way to take a proactive stance.
What are the benefits of a hotline?
There are three primary benefits to having a hotline or whistleblower mechanism. The first is the one that most people think of: detection. There’s an issue taking place and, for whatever reason, an employee doesn’t feel comfortable bringing it to someone directly. Note that having an open-door policy doesn’t necessarily mean your employees will be comfortable coming in the door.
However, there are two other big benefits: deterrence and affirmative defense. By setting a strong tone at the top, you’re more likely to deter potential problems. You can spend a lot of time and money working towards that, but a hotline service is only going to enhance your efforts. And in the worst case scenario, if something actually does go wrong, having a hotline in place will help you demonstrate that you have done all the right things and it wasn’t an organizational issue – it was an individual issue.
If you are a leader in any kind of organization, you will want to take note of these other topics discussed in this episode:
What types of issues are uncovered by a hotline & how do they even work?
Can hotlines be abused?
How does one implement a hotline in their organization?
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