Whistleblower.
At Westernacher, we promote a culture of integrity and transparency. Those associated with us in a professional context should feel confident that they can do the right thing. Part of this is being able to raise concerns. If you experience or hear about behaviour that is inconsistent with our corporate culture or codes of conduct, or that may not comply with legal requirements, we want you to report it so that it can be dealt with appropriately.
Reporting office & reporting channels:
All concerns can be reported via our whistleblowing tool, FaceUp. This platform is secure, anonymous, and designed to support employees, partners, and customers in raising issues. Reports may relate to:
- Unlawful acts or omissions that are punishable by a penalty or fine (including criminal or administrative offences)
- Human rights and environmental risks, or violations of obligations in these areas
- Breaches of internal company guidelines
Your voice matters, and FaceUp ensures that every concern is handled appropriately and confidentially.
Whistleblowers, including employees, partners and customers.
Assess the form here – : https://faceup.com/c/cucekaw4
How does it work?
- You can submit an anonymous report through the FaceUp link, available for both web and mobile.
- The system assigns each case to the appropriate case manager.
- All communication and investigations happen within the platform, ensuring complete confidentiality.
Please also note the following information:
Protected group of persons
Whistleblowers, including employees, staff, shareholders, employees of suppliers, customers and applicants.
The protected group of persons also includes potential witnesses and other supporting persons, such as colleagues of the person providing the information.
Absolute confidentiality
You can rely on our absolute confidentiality! Under no circumstances do you have to fear any professional consequences or suffer any other disadvantages as a whistleblower if you contact our reporting office.
We have taken technical and organisational measures to ensure that, with the exception of the appointed trusted persons (case managers), no one has access to the protected information and that it is treated with absolute confidentiality. Even the management will not know the identity of the persons belonging to the protected group of people.
Requirements for the degree of suspicion
Information about violations that give rise to reasonable suspicion or knowledge of actual or potential violations and attempts to conceal such violations that are in the professional context and that have already been committed or are likely to be committed.
The requirements for the substantiation of suspicions are low.
Please note, however:
A deliberately false report can have consequences under criminal law.
Legal texts
Whistleblower Protection Act (Germany / Hinweisgeberschutzgesetz):
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hinschg/
Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (“Whistleblower Directive”):
http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/1937/oj
External reporting office in Germany
Of course, you are also free to contact an external reporting office with your concerns.
The federal government has set up an external reporting office via the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ), which you can reach via the following link:
https://www.bundesjustizamt.de/DE/MeldestelledesBundes/MeldestelledesBundes_node.html