Whistleblower protection standards due to come into force across the European Union next month appear to be equally defined by what the legislation has got right and wrong.

The EU Whistleblowing Directive—which must be transposed into national law by Dec. 17—aims to protect individuals who speak up about possible wrongdoing, as well as those associated with them who may have facilitated the whistleblowing (including colleagues and relatives).

Neil Hodge is a freelance business journalist and photographer based in Nottingham, United Kingdom. He writes on insurance and risk management, corporate governance, internal audit, compliance, and legal...