(external) Confidential Advisor

Why an (external) confidential advisor?
In an ideal world, there would be no need for a confidential advisor.
There would be no problems, everyone would do what they are supposed to do, and no one would be bothered by anyone else. Reality is different. At the office, at school, in healthcare, social services, volunteer work, and sports—everywhere people come together, undesirable behavior can occur. Often, it is enough to talk about these issues with the help of an (external) confidential advisor.

Why not an internal confidential advisor?
The role of confidential advisor is often difficult to combine with other functions internally. An internal confidential advisor who wears multiple “hats” within the organization may give the “appearance” of not being sufficiently neutral. That is why it is a good option to engage an external confidential advisor. But also, for replacement during holidays, illness, or other absences of an internal confidential advisor, an external confidential advisor can be a valuable addition.

Companies and/or organizations would therefore do well to appoint an external confidential advisor.

Employees are entitled to a safe, reliable, and healthy workplace; this is enshrined in the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet).

The Arbowet obliges companies and/or organizations to prevent or limit psychosocial workload (PSA), which includes undesirable forms of behavior.
In addition to the legal obligation, it is a matter of good employment practices and good governance to take measures to prevent undesirable behavior. This leads to well-being, a good reputation, increased labor productivity, motivation, loyalty, and effective cooperation. Undesirable behavior can cause a great deal of suffering, such as stress, damage to employees, escalation of conflicts, absenteeism, and turnover. 

If you have a company and/or organization with 50 or more employees (this includes interns, temporary workers, volunteers, self-employed persons, etc.), you are required as a company and/or organization to implement an Integrity Policy.

What can you contact an (external) confidential advisor for?An (external) confidential advisor is there to provide support, guidance, and advice to people dealing with problems, conflicts, or challenges at work or in other situations. You can contact an external confidential advisor for various matters, such as:

1. Conflicts at work: For example, issues with colleagues, supervisors, or clients.

2. Bullying, discrimination, or intimidation: If you are confronted with undesirable behavior in the workplace or elsewhere.

3. Reporting misconduct: If you are dealing with unethical behavior, fraud, or other violations of rules within an organization.

4. Advice on dilemmas: Situations where you are unsure how to act and need independent advice.

5. Help in finding solutions: The confidential advisor can help you explore and discuss possible solutions.

The most important thing is that an (external) confidential advisor is an independent and neutral party who guarantees confidentiality. They also provide a safe environment where you can speak freely about your concerns, without it affecting your position or situation.

What are the benefits of an (external) confidential advisor?
An external confidential advisor is independent and has no stake in the company. He or she does not steer towards a particular outcome in a confidential matter. Moreover, this person will never be persuaded by managers to break the duty of confidentiality. The latter is much more difficult for an internal confidential advisor under great pressure.

• An external confidential advisor handles cases of undesirable behavior full-time. As a result, this person has a lot of experience. This is in contrast to an internal confidential advisor, who often does this on the side and therefore deals with complex situations less frequently.
• An external confidential advisor offers a fresh perspective. He or she is not part of the company culture. This allows them to clearly see the atmosphere and identify areas for improvement. These are often things that an internal confidential advisor may not notice, as they have been part of the company for a long time and are used to it.
  
  
• An external confidential advisor is available five days a week, and in urgent cases also outside office hours. This person can take on a case quickly. An internal confidential advisor often cannot do this, as they perform this role alongside their regular job.
  
  
• With an external confidential advisor, you do not have to worry about (the costs of) further training and staying up to date. An external confidential advisor is well-trained, certified, and registered, and ensures annual further training. In addition, they participate in peer review groups to share their expertise with like-minded professionals and help each other grow. With an internal confidential advisor, you have to invest yourself. Especially if you have an SME, this is an attractive advantage.