What is whistleblowing, and why is it important?
Whistleblowing is the act of reporting misconduct, including fraud, harassment, discrimination, and any other form of unethical behavior or wrongdoing. It's vital for maintaining transparency, ethics, and accountability in GD.
What is MyComplianceReport?
GD uses the 'MyComplianceReport' whistleblowing platform to provide a safe and transparent channel for individuals and entities to report misconduct. It is a comprehensive reporting tool provided by Ethico that enables collaboration among GD's leadership and staff to address wrongdoing in our organization while cultivating a positive work environment.
Who can file a whistleblowing report?
GD's employees, interns, volunteers, board members, donors, community members, partners, or service providers can report concerns about any activities that they believe to be illegal, unethical, questionable, or contrary to our policies. GD does not allow retaliation against an employee or any other individual or entity who has reported a concern in good faith.
What is the mandate of the whistleblowing platform, and will we keep our existing channels as well?
Our whistleblowing platform aims to provide a secure channel for individuals to report concerns, if they so choose, anonymously. It is designed to empower whistleblowers, ensuring their voices are heard without fear of retaliation, while also helping the organization address issues promptly and effectively in compliance with internal and external (donors, regulators, etc.) mandates. This platform will complement the existing channels of reporting instead of replacing them. We hope this platform will also address the limitations of our traditional reporting channels, for instance, through anonymity, and protect whistleblowers from potential backlash. Our goal is to promote the use of the new platform while also ensuring that individuals have access to a variety of reporting options.
What type of report can I file?
MyComplianceReport provides an avenue for GD's employees, interns, volunteers, board members, donors, community members, partners, or service providers to report serious concerns or violations, perceived or known, related to GD business. Reports may be generated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anonymously if elected. Once a report has been completed, all information is forwarded immediately for appropriate follow-up and resolution.
Can my report be anonymous?
YES! You may submit a report regarding serious concerns or violations while remaining anonymous. The only information MyComplianceReport requires for a new report is details regarding the concern so GD may begin an investigation to determine the validity of the violation. Only the information you provide is processed by MyComplianceReport, and If you would like to be contacted by a GD representative, you may provide your name and contact details.
Can I file a report from home and still remain anonymous?
If you feel uncomfortable making a report on your work PC during or after work hours, you have the option of using a PC outside our work environment (such as a PC at an Internet cafe or a friend's house). A report from home, a neighbor's computer, or any internet portal will remain secure and, if you choose to do so, anonymous.
Is the telephone toll-free hotline confidential and anonymous too?
Yes, the telephone toll-free hotline option is available in certain countries, and you can elect to remain anonymous. You will be asked to provide the same information that you would provide in an Internet-based report. A call center interviewer will share your responses in the MyEthicsReport. These reports have the same security measures applied to them during delivery to GD's authorized staff as a web-based report would have.
What if I want to be identified with my report?
There is a section in the report to identify yourself if you wish to do so.
What should I do if I experience retaliation after a whistleblowing report?
If you encounter any form of retaliation for your whistleblowing report, please notify the country, regional, or global leadership immediately. GD's management is dedicated to safeguarding your well-being and takes retaliation seriously.
Is my information secure?
Yes, your personal information is treated with the utmost care. Any reported information is shared with the authorized staff for assessment. Information may be shared with the other necessary parties during the investigation (e.g., law enforcement, donors, etc.). MyComplianceReport utilizes the latest in 128-bit encryption technology. No data mining or off-site web hosting are used. All of your reported information is kept highly secured.
I am aware of some individuals acting unethically, but it doesn't affect me. Why should I bother reporting their actions?
Our organization is firmly rooted in the highest standards of ethical behavior and conduct. Any unethical conduct, at any level, ultimately damages the organization and all employees, including you. If you know of any incidents of misconduct or ethical violations, consider it your duty to yourself and your coworkers to report them.
I am not sure if what I have observed or heard is a violation of our policy or involves unethical conduct, but it just does not look right to me. What should I do?
You should file a report. MyEthicsReport is designed in such a way that it can assist you with the development and filing of your report. GD doesn't retaliate for any report filed in good faith.
What if my supervisor is involved in a violation? Won't they get a copy of my report and start a cover-up?
Our whistleblowing system ensures that any implicated party is not notified or granted access to a whistleblower report in which such an individual has been named. GD's internal checks mitigate the cover up of wrongdoing, and any attempt by the implicated individuals to do so constitutes misconduct, which is subject to disciplinary action.
Who receives and acts on a whistleblowing report?
All reports submitted through the platform will be securely transmitted to a designated group of staff. These staff will have controlled access to the platform and will be able to review, assess, assign, or take other appropriate actions based on the reported information. MyComplianceReport will provide the confidential platform to enable whistleblowing reports, and any action or communication will be undertaken by the authorized staff.
What happens when I file a whistleblowing report?
The whistleblowing platform considers standards and best practices to address a range of concerns, including but not limited to financial misconduct, safety violations, harassment, discrimination, fraud, ethical or contractual breaches, and any other behavior that goes against our organization's values and policies. Once a report is submitted, this platform will have a structured workflow that includes an initial assessment by the platform administrators. Depending on the nature of the concern, the case may be assigned to the relevant team for further investigation and resolution. This could involve follow-up with the executive leadership, HR, legal, safeguarding, finance, data, compliance, audit, or other specialized personnel, ensuring that each case is appropriately handled by the right expert and/or function.
How long does the investigation process take?
The duration of the investigation can vary based on the complexity of the case. GD's management takes each whistleblowing report very seriously. We aim to handle reports efficiently while ensuring a thorough investigation.
How do I check on a report I previously filed?
To follow up on a report you have already submitted, click on the button 'Follow-Up Report' found on the homepage of MyComplianceReport.com. Enter your Report Number and password, then click 'Next'. A resolution of the reported concern will be available in this section after completion of the investigation.
Where do I get a Report Number if I do not already have one?
If you do not already have a Report Number, but do have knowledge of serious violations, perceived or known in the work environment, you will need to create a New Report. Once your report has been generated, you will be given a Report Number. Based on the status of completion of investigation, you will be able to check the status of your report by logging in at MyComplianceReport.com using your Access Code and Report Number.
Forgot your Report Number?
Unfortunately, if you have lost or forgotten your Report Number you will need to begin a New Report. For security reasons, we are not able to retrieve lost Report Numbers. It is fine to mention in the new report that it is related to a report or question that you previously submitted.
What are the limitations of this platform?
Our platform operates within certain constraints, and it's crucial to understand that we cannot assure specific results or outcomes for every report. While we are committed to thoroughly investigating each case, the resolution may vary depending on the nature and complexity of the reported misconduct. We urge users to utilize this platform responsibly and in a spirit of genuine concern for ethical practices, as this ultimately contributes to the effectiveness of our mission.
What types of issues should not be reported on a whistleblowing platform?
Our platform addresses misconduct, fraud, and unethical behavior. Issues like personal conflicts, minor issues, grievances, or non-work matters are generally considered unsuitable for whistleblower reporting. For non-whistleblowing reports, we encourage individuals to use the appropriate channels, such as our HR assistance, compliance support, or helpdesk from other functions, etc. You may also reach out to your supervisor or a member of GD's legal or compliance team for any questions in this regard.