Whistle-blowing Procedure
January 2020
Reminder of Interserve's Whistle-blowing Procedure
SPEAK UP!
We all have a voice, and a responsibility to do the right thing for ourselves and each other. This includes speaking up when we see wrongdoing that might affect people’s wellbeing or damage the reputation of the company.
Speak Up encourages you and your colleagues to report confidentially, anything you see or hear in the workplace that you have serious worries about.
This could be.....
- A dangerous activity that puts you or other people at risk
- A criminal offence
- Someone who isn’t fulfilling their legal obligations
- A miscarriage of justice
- An activity that is damaging the environment
What should I do if I suspect serious wrongdoing?
If you or a colleague have seen or heard something that you think is illegal or seriously wrong, and that affects you and others around you, then you should speak up and report it. Expolink, our independent partner, provides a confidential reporting service for you as an Interserve employee. It’s easy to report your concerns confidentially by either:
- Staying anonymous and sharing your details with Expolink so they can come back to you about your case and keep you updated
- Sharing your details with Expolink to pass on to us so we can contact you about your concerns
Use the free phone 24-hour hotline number, report online, or use the 'SpeakingUp' App. You can make your report in many different languages, and Expolink can provide a translator so you can be confident your concerns will be understood.
UK callers:
- Access Code: 46873
- Tel: 0808 169 8918
You can make a report online: https://wrs.expolink.co.uk/interserve or you can make a report using Expolink's 'SpeakingUp' mobile app which can be downloaded onto your Smartphone.
What happens next?
Once the information you have given us is logged in a report it will be passed to Interserve’s Audit and Investigation team who will investigate the matter in an appropriate way. If you’ve shared who you are with Expolink, they’ll let you know the outcome of the investigation.
What isn’t to be reported to the hotline?
Personal grievances in the workplace, e.g. bullying, harassment, discrimination, aren’t covered by the Speak Up process, unless your particular case is in the public interest. This means it must affect others, e.g. the general public. Please report grievance matters to your line manager or HR.Further information on Personal grievances can be found within the following company Policies:
- Anti-Harassment, Bullying and Victimisation Policy
- Equality & Diversity Policy
What should I report?
Bribery and Corruption
An individual giving or receiving cash, services or products to influence someone to take a certain action or decision.
Example - a supplier gives you some building supplies to use on your own house in exchange for them working on a contract.
Fraud
Deliberate deception for personal financial gain.
Example - someone setting up a fake supplier and billing the company for services that haven’t been provided or claiming overtime that hasn’t been worked.
Theft
Stealing things that belong to the business.
Example – cash, data, materials.
Employing illegal workers
Anyone you employ, whatever their role, needs to have the right documents and Right to Work in the UK, otherwise you could be prosecuted along with them.
Working conditions
There are laws governing pay, working hours, providing a clean, safe working environment. This could be described as modern slavery where people are forced to perform tasks that are underpaid, dangerous, immoral or illegal.
Example – when people borrow money they cannot repay and are required to work to pay off the debt, then lose control over the conditions of both their employment and the debt.
Health and Safety
By law, employers must protect the health and safety of their employees, anyone who is affected by their work and the general public.
Example – an employer doesn’t provide the right personal protective equipment, or routine checks and maintenance are not carried out.
Damage to the Environment
All businesses have a responsibility to look after the environment by controlling emissions, disposing of waste properly, protecting wildlife and habitats and using natural resources responsibly.
Example - putting medical waste in a normal bin or lying about the level of pollutants coming from a factory chimney.