What Happens When an Employee Calls the Ombudsman?

Ombudsmen exist for one simple reason: to help people and organizations. They help employees by providing an individual (or a team) with whom to have confidential conversations, whether about someone who is taking bribes, a supervisor who’s using drugs, sexual harassment, a personal conflict, or some other issue. Some employees see HR, compliance officers, and managers as agents of the company whose job is to protect it rather than employees’ interests. Like people who are reluctant to report something to the police, they don’t know how an investigation will turn out, and they’re afraid the law won’t protect them. Yes, whistleblower-protection laws and anti-retaliation policies exist; but people know that far too often, whistleblowers are penalized, and retaliation occurs anyway. Thus they need a confidential, informal, neutral, and independent alternative to help deal with such issues. That’s what an ombudsman provides.