Anonymous Reporting Best Practices

Why anonymity matters

Reporting wrongdoing can put you at risk of retaliation — from dismissal and demotion to harassment and isolation. Anonymous reporting:

• Reduces the chance that you will be identified and targeted
• Lets you share what you know without having to reveal your identity to your employer or others
• Can make it easier to report when internal channels feel unsafe or biased

Many whistleblower laws protect only certain types of disclosures; anonymity can provide an extra layer of protection when you are unsure or when you want to minimize exposure.

Risks of non-anonymous reporting

If you report using your name, email, or work account:

• Your identity may be shared with people who could retaliate or influence the response
• Emails and metadata can reveal who you are and when you reported
• Work devices and networks may be monitored or subject to discovery

If you need to stay anonymous, use a channel that does not require or store your identity, and follow basic digital hygiene.

How to maintain anonymity

Digital hygiene

• Use a private or incognito browser window so your activity is not saved in your normal history
• Prefer a personal device and network (for example, at home) if you are concerned about work monitoring
• Do not log into work accounts or use work email when submitting an anonymous report

What you write

• Avoid details that could identify you — “I am the only person in X role”, or “I was in the meeting on Y date” if that narrows it down
• Stick to facts, dates, and evidence that investigators can verify without knowing your identity

Case number and follow-up

What makes a good anonymous report

• Clear and factual

  What happened, when, where, and who was involved — without revealing yourself if possible.

• Specific

  Enough detail for someone to follow up: documents, systems, witnesses.

• Relevant

  Focused on conduct that is illegal, against policy, or poses serious risk.

Take your time writing it — nothing is saved or sent until you submit. At that point you decide whether to send it to anyone: keep it as a private, timestamped record, or send it to the people you choose.

How EZ Report ensures anonymity

EZ Report is designed for anonymous reporting: no registration, no required email or name. Your report is encrypted; we do not track you. You get a case number to look up your report and follow up, and you choose who it is sent to when you submit.

• No account — nothing to sign up for and no password to be linked to you
• No required identity — name and email are optional throughout
• Encrypted in transit and at rest — see the Trust Center for the details