man in blue with helmet

Whistleblowing guidelines

AERZEN

Welcome to the whistleblower hotline

Misconduct at AERZEN concerns us all.

Our culture of compliance (adherence to laws and rules) is based on a lived culture of values and on strengthening the level of personal responsibility of all team members, which goes beyond legal compliance. This also includes the joint prevention and combating of violations that harm our company and thus, ultimately, all of us.

Perhaps a team member knows about violations but does not dare to tell anyone for fear of the consequences, including retaliation. Maybe a supervisor or a colleague in the office opposite is involved. How will it be received if I point out the corrupt behaviour of a "competitor"? Will I be believed at all and will the tip-off be followed up?

To counter concerns of this kind, you can submit your tip-off here, either stating your name or doing so anonymously. By providing this confidential communication platform, AERZEN offers you the opportunity to protect yourself through anonymity and at the same time to actively participate in the clarification of illegal or irregular behaviour. With your help, unauthorised activities can be detected at an early stage, so that perpetrators can be identified and further damage prevented.

Whistleblowers who report possible violations for good reason are not denunciators. Rather, they are instrumental in preserving our values, our reputation and our position in the market. Please bear in mind, however, that any information you provide about third parties can lead to decisions being taken which may have serious consequences for the people involved. That is why we ask you only to provide us with information that is correct to the best of your knowledge.

Please note that the whistleblower system is not an emergency system. It is not to be used for general complaints about your own workplace or your treatment at work.

Thank you for your support!

Submitting tip-offs

The whistleblower system can be contacted:

Dominik Bleckmann
E-Mail: Compliance@dsn-group.de
Telefon: +49 421 69 66 32-349
datenschutz nord GmbH
Konsul-Smidt-Str. 88
28217 Bremen
Germany

Your message

Notices of alleged violations or infringements of our rules should be formulated in as much detail as possible. When describing the facts of the case, you should consider the following questions:

  • What is the focus of the message? (Corruption, bribery and fraud; Antitrust and competition law; Foreign trade and sanctions law; Environment, health, safety, labour standards and human rights; Data protection; Other offences and violations)
  • In which country and business area did the incident occur?
  • Have you already informed someone at AERZEN?
  • Are managers involved in the incident?
  • Has any damage already been done?
  • When did the incident take place?
  • Is the incident still ongoing?
  • Are other companies or organisations involved in the incident?
  • Is there any evidence for the case described?

After submitting a report, the whistleblower will receive feedback from the Ombudsperson, who will answer questions and provide information on the progress of the report submission.

Safety note
To increase your security as a whistleblower, please consider the following points:

  • If you wish to remain anonymous, do not provide any personal data, e.g. your name or your relationship to the parties involved. Also, do not provide any data that allows conclusions to be drawn about your identity.
  • If possible, do not use any technical equipment (PC, laptop, smartphone, etc.) provided by your employer. An intranet connection in particular can jeopardise your anonymity.
  • You can decide whether and which of your contact details you provide and whether or not you wish to receive feedback. If you choose to provide feedback and supply your contact details, you will receive confirmation of receipt of your notice within 7 days via the same communication channel you used. Within 3 months, you will receive information on how your tip-off was handled and any measures subsequently taken.

Download - Guide to the whistleblower system of AERZEN