Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham Region (BBBSND)
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Whistleblower Policy
BACKGROUND:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham is committed to the highest ethical standards. We do this by conducting our business with maximum integrity and by achieving full compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations. In line with this commitment, Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham provides an avenue for its employees, Board members, volunteers and other stakeholders to report any concerns they may have about the activities covered by this policy and to be assured that they will be protected from reprisal or victimization for reporting their concerns in good faith.
This policy covers instances where an employee, Board member or other stakeholder has evidence of activity by any Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham officer, employee, Board member or consultant (including external auditors) that to his/her knowledge constitutes:
- Accounting, auditing, or other financial reporting fraud or misrepresentation;
- Violations of federal or provincial laws that could result in fines or civil damages payable by Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham, or that could otherwise significantly harm Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham’s reputation or public image;
- Unethical business conduct in violation of any Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham’s policy, including, but not limited to its Codes of Ethics;
- Danger to the health, safety, or well-being of employees, Board members and/or the general public;
- Harassment, retaliation, or discrimination, stemming from having reported a Reportable Activity.
For the purposes of this Policy, any of the foregoing activities shall be deemed to be a “Reportable Activity”.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham will not permit any employees, Board members, volunteers, consultants or external stakeholder to harass, retaliate or discriminate against any other employee, Board member, volunteer or stakeholder who, in good faith, has reported a Reportable Activity (a Complaint). Retaliation in any form will not be tolerated.
Any violation of this Policy may subject the violator to disciplinary action, which may include, in appropriate circumstances, termination of employment or legal action.
Making a complaint not in good faith will be viewed as a serious offence, and may be subject to discipline up to and including discharge of an employee, and/or the severing of the relationship with a Board member, supplier, or other stakeholder.
PROCEDURE FOR MAKING A COMPLAINT
To file a complaint or Reportable Activity, please click on the REPORT button which will forward your complaint on a confidential basis to the Chair of the Board, who has the responsibility for investigating such complaints and taking the appropriate action.
The Chair of the Board, however, will refer your complaint to the Executive Director if the Reportable Activity concerns an employee other than the Executive Director or concerns a consultant retained by Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham. In the event that the complaint concerns a Reportable Activity on the part of the Chair of the Board, after you have completed the Complaint Report Form, click on the BOARD CHAIR button in order to forward your complaint on a confidential basis for the attention of the Board Chair.
A Complainant may remain anonymous. However, in order to allow for a better investigation of a complaint, the Complainant should consider providing their name and contact information. Whether or not a name and contact information is provided, the substance of the complaint will be treated with utmost confidence and not discussed with others except to the minimum extent necessary to conduct a complete and fair investigation. In all cases, any person who is alleged to have conducted the Reportable Activity will be made aware of the complaint at an appropriate point during the investigation.
The Complainant should give enough information to enable a full investigation, including where and when the Reportable Activity occurred, names and titles of individuals involved, and as much other relevant detail as the Complainant can provide.
INVESTIGATION AND RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINT
The recipient of a complaint made in accordance with this policy (the “Investigator”) shall be responsible for expeditiously conducting or causing to be conducted an investigation of the complaint, resolving the matter, and reporting such resolution to the Complainant. Under no circumstances will the Investigator allow such investigation or resolution or reporting to be delegated to or shared by anyone whom the Complainant identified as being or having been involved in the Reportable Activity, or whom the Investigator deems inappropriate.
REPORT
Click here to submit a report
WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOU REPORT, PLEASE INCLUDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE, SUCH AS:
Your Name
Your Role at Big Brothers Big Sisters (volunteer, client, staff, donor)
Supervisor Name (if applicable)
Phone #
Email address
Description of reportable activity
Whether the reportable Activity is ongoing, completed, (or unclear)
Department (if applicable)
Individual(s) suspected of reportable activity
How you became aware of the activity
Describe any steps you took prior to submitting this report (ex. informed a BBBS representative)