Case IQ Research Study: AI and Whistleblowing: Through the Employee Lens (France)
Study Overview
The primary objective of this study was to examine employee perceptions and experiences related to whistleblowing across five countries—USA, Canada, Australia, France, and Brazil. This report focuses on France. The research aimed to assess how comfortable employees feel reporting misconduct, their confidence in organizational protection against retaliation, and the perceived effectiveness of whistleblowing programs. Additionally, the study explored the role of organizational culture and leadership in fostering ethical behavior, and evaluated attitudes toward the use of AI-driven whistleblowing tools. By comparing responses across diverse cultural and organizational contexts, the study sought to identify key factors that influence whistleblowing behavior and inform best practices for creating safer, more transparent reporting environments globally.
This was a cross-national quantitative survey conducted across five countries: the USA, Canada, Australia, France, and Brazil. Total Respondents: Approximately 1,090 participants. Country Samples: Each country had a sample size ranging from 210 to 226 respondents. Collected demographics included gender, age, job tenure, customer-facing role (desk-based vs. deskless), and ethnicity (in country-specific files). The survey included both frequency-based and scale-based questions, with responses to scale-based questions measured on Likert-type scales (typically 1–5). Openended (qualitative) responses were also recorded. ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was used to compare means across countries for key variables. Data were collected through online recruitment platforms (i.e., via online survey platforms) with standardized questions across all countries to ensure comparability.
Workplace Incidents & Reporting
Misconduct visibility is high, with nearly half (48.6%) of French employees reporting witnessing misconduct. This is comparable to Canada (57.5%), suggesting workplace misconduct is a widely acknowledged reality. However, reporting remains a challenge. Only 48% of those who witnessed misconduct reported it—the lowest reporting rate of the four countries examined so far. This suggests that more than half may choose not to report incidents, likely due to fear, distrust, or lack of guidance.
Whistleblowing Programs & Company Culture
As mentioned previously, only 28% of French organizations have a whistleblowing program with clear guidelines on how to report workplace incidents. This is even though nearly 50% of employees have witnessed workplace misconduct. Whistleblowing program deployment in France is immature compared to other regions. Among those respondents with a whistleblowing program, less than half of them (40.7%) view their whistleblowing program as effective.
An ethical culture is a must-have requirement to foster a safe, speak-up culture. Senior leaders among French organizations get relatively low marks for doing so, with only 49.1% of respondents stating their senior leadership promotes a culture of ethical behavior and accountability. This presents an opportunity for French executives to vocally support ethical behavior and encourage employees to speak up.
Artificial Intelligence
French respondents have a cautious optimism about AI. Concern is low, but understanding is limited. Nearly half of respondents (49.5%) have no concerns about AI-driven tools. Yet only 42.9% believe AI can make whistleblowing safer/confidential. A striking 38.6% are unsure, suggesting uncertainty—not fear—is the dominant barrier. The gap between low concern and low confidence in AI’s benefits is a strategic opportunity for companies introducing digital or AI-driven ethics tools. This result complements the earlier finding that when it comes to reporting workplace incidents, AI-enabled tools lag behind traditional methods like a phone hotline or web form.
A resounding 87.1% want disclosure on how AI is used—similar to Australia (92.9%) and the U.S. (82.7%). This overwhelming support suggests that AI can gain trust if it is explained well. French employees are privacy-aware and value corporate transparency, so training and communication efforts should emphasize those areas.
To read our full findings and recommendations, read the report.
About the Author
Shannon Walker is the Founder and President of WhistleBlower Security Inc. and the Executive VP of Strategy at Case IQ. WBS was founded in 2005 and acquired by Case IQ in 2023 after years of partnering on global intake solutions for mutual clients. Shannon is a thought leader on whistleblowing, ethics, corporate culture, and diversity in the workplace. A former elected City Official, Shannon has also sat on numerous non-profit and community boards and is currently on the BC Epilepsy Society Board.
About the Researcher
Dr. Rene Arseneault is an assistant professor of human resources at the University of Laval. His research focuses include recruitment and selection, personality, job design, and cross-cultural differences in the workplace. He has published over a dozen academic, peer-reviewed articles and presented his work at top-tier conferences worldwide.
