CONFIDENTIAL REPORTING POLICY

The Company has put in place a confidential reporting system which is available to ALL employees irrespective of their length of service or the position they hold within the Company. We trust you will not have cause to use the process, however, you should be aware of its availability and purpose.

The main purpose of the system is to provide employees with ready access to a safe and effective means of reporting any matters regarding the Company and/or its employees, no matter how serious, in the full knowledge that the report will be dealt with in the strictest confidence and they will be protected against any detriment.

Should you discover a situation which you feel would be best dealt with by means of this policy, the decision on who you report it to is a matter for you. However, your choice of position and seniority within the company will be respected, as will protection and confidentiality.

The Company will support employees who make confidential disclosures and protect them from reprisals or victimisation. If an employee comes forward with a concern, they can be confident that their employment will in no way be affected. This applies equally if anyone comes forward in good faith with a concern which turns out later not to have been justified.

If anyone tries to discourage an employee from coming forward to express a concern, the Company will treat this as a serious disciplinary offence. In the same way, anyone who criticises, or victimises, an employee, after a concern has been expressed will be dealt with under the disciplinary procedures.

It is acknowledged that it is never easy to report a concern, particularly one which may relate to an unlawful act. However, staff are urged to come forward with any concerns at the earliest opportunity, so that matters can be dealt with promptly and effectively, before problems can get out of hand.

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