# Triage a whistleblower or hotline report

Assesses a hotline report for urgency, allegation type, and conflicts, then sets out next steps that protect the reporter.

- Topic: Legal & Compliance
- Framework: Few-Shot
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Legal, Brainstorm, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/triage-a-whistleblower-or-hotline-report

## Prompt

```text
Help me triage a report received through our whistleblower or ethics hotline.

**Report text (redact names if you prefer):** [PASTE]
**Channel and whether the reporter is anonymous:** [e.g. anonymous web portal, email, manager referral]
**Can we communicate with the reporter?** [YES via portal / NO]
**Our policy and triage categories:** [PASTE or "suggest"]
**Jurisdictions involved:** [COUNTRY/STATE]

Give me:
1. **Allegation summary** - each distinct allegation separately, stated neutrally as an allegation, not a fact.
2. **Classification** - e.g. fraud, bribery, harassment, discrimination, safety, data breach, conflict of interest, accounting irregularity, retaliation, policy breach, grievance only.
3. **Urgency** - any immediate risk to people, ongoing loss, evidence that could be destroyed, or mandatory reporting deadlines. Flag [ESCALATE NOW] where relevant.
4. **Who should and should not handle it** - conflicts of interest, e.g. allegations involving senior management, the audit committee, or the compliance function itself.
5. **Information gaps** and neutral follow-up questions for the reporter that do not reveal what we already know.
6. **Preservation steps** - what records or data to secure, and how to do it quietly.
7. **Reporter protection** - confidentiality steps and anti-retaliation reminders.
8. **Recommended path** - investigate (by whom), refer (HR, legal, security), or close with reasons.

If the report describes immediate danger to anyone's safety, contact emergency services or security first, then continue triage. Do not speculate about anyone's guilt. Whistleblower protection and reporting rules vary by jurisdiction; confirm with legal counsel before acting.
```

## What to fill in

- PASTE
- e.g. anonymous web portal, email, manager referral
- YES via portal / NO
- PASTE or "suggest"
- COUNTRY/STATE
- ESCALATE NOW

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.