Whistleblower system

With the reporting system, violations of the law can be reported confidentially and, if desired, anonymously. However, complaints, personal opinions or even speculation will not be processed.

HinSchG
§ 2 HinSchG contains an exhaustive catalogue of the facts that can be the subject of a report. A whistleblower can therefore report, among other things:

LkSG
The purpose of the LkSG is to effectively counter human rights violations and environmental risks through responsible supply chain management. The complaints procedure pursuant to Section 8 LkSG must therefore be used for human rights and environmental risks at Hereon and in the supply chain.


You can find the links to the laws on this page under Related Links.

HinSchG
Anyone who obtains information about violations in connection with their professional activity or in the run-up to a professional activity is entitled to submit information. These can be employees of the center, but also external persons as well as business or cooperation partners.

LkSG
Internal and external persons can use the complaints procedure to report human rights and environmental risks or violations in Hereon's own operations or in the supply chain.

A reporting system is a secure, digital channel for confidential reporting of violations of the law. The digital whistleblower system of Hereon is operated by a German company specializing in compliance matters, LegalTegrity GmbH, and managed by the internal Compliance-Office.

The digital whistleblower system enables communication between the whistleblower and the person(s) processing the report – the reporting office, which is secured by special encryption. Every report is checked and all violations are consistently investigated. All information will be processed confidentially and within the framework of applicable laws.

The solution introduced ensures that data protection is fully guaranteed. To ensure complete anonymity, we recommend giving report via a private device.

The whistleblower system should be used if reporting by means of the established contact points (see committees and representatives) is out of the question for the person concerned. It is important that the description of the facts is as complete as possible and that any suspicion expressed is based on concrete and comprehensible facts and indications. In the case of anonymous reports, there is the possibility of anonymous dialogue – please note the information in the system.

To ensure complete anonymity, we recommend that you report the report via a private device.

The reports are processed by employees of LegalTegrity GmbH and by Hereon's internal compliance office. Together they form the Hereon's internal reporting office for notifications in accordance with the HinSchG and LkSG. Reporting offices (as well as any persons assisting in the investigation) must as a matter of principle maintain the confidentiality of the identity of the whistleblower and the persons who are the subject of a report and, if applicable, other persons named in the report.

After submitting a report, the whistleblower receives an acknowledgment of receipt immediately, but no later than seven days from receipt of the report.
The report is first checked for plausibility by the reporting office.

Throughout the procedure, the reporting office is in contact with the whistleblower, if desired.

The whistleblower can inform himself about the status of the situation in the system at any time. No later than three months after receipt of the report, the whistleblower receives feedback on the processing status and the follow-up to the report.

The identity of whistleblowers is specially protected. If the identity is voluntarily disclosed or becomes known because of an investigation, these persons may not experience any reprisals as a result of the report and are protected from disadvantages.

Any Hereon employee who believes he or she has been discriminated against as a result of a report should inform his or her manager or seek contact with the bullying and bonflict Officers at the Hereon.

The following file formats are allowed for upload: .jpg, .png, .doc, .docx, .pdf, .xls, .xlsx, .csv and .txt.

With each file upload, all metadata is deleted and a single, anonymous file name is assigned. Therefore, there is no need to rename files yourself or delete the metadata yourself.

It is additionally necessary to check whether it is recognizable in the text or by means of images who has submitted the report. Delete or blacken these places to protect one's own identity.

Persons who intentionally report incorrect information or deliberately make false accusations are not protected. These persons are liable for damages and must expect consequences under labor law and criminal law.

The core of the HinSchG is the establishment of reporting offices in companies and public authorities, to which whistleblowers can turn if they have obtained information about violations in connection with their professional activities or in the run-up to such information. The complaints procedure within the meaning of the LkSG is to be used for human rights and environmental risks at Hereon and in the supply chain.
For this purpose, Hereon operates the internal reporting office with the whistleblower system.

In addition, there are various external reporting offices:

The corresponding links to the third-party sites can be found on this page under Related Links

Reporting to the internal reporting office, i.e. to the whistleblower system of the Hereon, is preferable.