German Whistleblower Protection Act

Reporting in accordance with the HinSchG

Whistleblower Reporting Channel

In compliance with our obligations under the German Whistleblower Protection Act and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, we have established a trustworthy whistleblower reporting channel. This channel provides all internal and external whistleblowers including employees, temporary workers, business partners, and other stakeholders with a secure and confidential means to report potential violations or concerns related to our company. It is accessible across all business areas and subsidiaries and extends to our entire supply chain.

The whistleblower reporting channel allows you to submit reports concerning potential violations or issues, particularly in the following areas:

  • Unethical business practices and violations of law
  • Human rights violations
  • Environmental complaints

Please note that the reporting channels cannot be used for general complaints or product and warranty inquiries.

For further information, please see our Rules of Procedure for the Complaint Mechanism.

Reporting a violation

Our Ombudsman

In order to guarantee independence and confidentiality, we have appointed Plan A Criminal Law Firm as an external Ombudsman. This acts as a trusted attorney and part of our compliance management system. Plan A‘s lawyers are your point of contact for information about unethical business practices, legal violations or irregularities in the company.

To ensure an effective investigation, it is helpful for whistleblowers to provide as much detailed information as possible, including:

  • Names of the people involved
  • Type of complaint and how the whistleblower became aware of it
  • Affected persons or parties (e.g. employees, business partners)
  • A description of the incident that is as detailed as possible (What happened? When and where did it happen? Was it a one time incident or a repeated violation?)
  • Documentary evidence supporting the incident (if any)
  • Any other important information that may help clarify the incident

Anonymity and confidentiality

Our company allows whistleblowers to contact the reporting office anonymously. However, providing contact information can be helpful to clarify any questions and effectively support the investigation. If the identity of the whistleblower is disclosed, we treat it confidentially.

Protection of the whistleblower

We are committed to providing comprehensive protection to whistleblowers and all employees involved from retaliation. This includes protection from harassment, disadvantage, unfair dismissal, disciplinary action and discrimination. Information is only made available to those directly involved in the investigation in accordance with the need to know principle. Whistleblowers also have the right to be heard as part of the investigation.

Disqualification

Protective measures do not apply in the case of intentional false statements or gross negligence, whereby in such cases the responsible person can be held liable for any damage caused.

Communication channels for submission

The following options are available for submitting reports:

Contact form

Please use our contact form to submit your report. You can remain anonymous. Detailed information (what, when, where) will help us process your report promptly.

Email

Send your information to ombudsstelle@kanzlei-plan-a.de. Please describe the incident precisely (what, when, where). Your report will be processed confidentially and, if requested, anonymously.

Telephone

Contact us at +49 211 54 28 24 0 to report your information confidentially. Your identity will remain anonymous upon request. Providing detailed information greatly facilitates processing.

Complaint form

You have the option of submitting a complaint directly to the Ombudsman using the following form.

Identity of the Whistleblower

Do you want to disclose your identity? If yes, please provide your name:

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