Speaking up and reporting concerns

Doing the right thing and speaking up helps protect BSI, our integrity and our reputation.

BSI is committed to an environment where employees and third parties feel comfortable to share their views and raise their concerns. We encourage all colleagues and third parties to speak up promptly and report conduct that we believe, in good faith, violates laws, regulations, internal policies or BSI’s Code of Business Ethics.

In the first instance, we want you to feel confident in raising any concerns with your line manager or other managers. But we realise sometimes you may not feel comfortable doing this. Your “Speak Up” whistleblowing service provided through Safecall is here to help.

When should I Speak Up?

BSI takes whistleblowing very seriously and is committed to independently investigate any allegations raised. If you see or suspect any wrong-doing BSI wants to hear about it. You don’t need to have any proof that these things are happening - if you have a reasonable belief, you should report your concerns.

You should use this independent “Speak Up” service if you see or suspect:

  • Bribery, fraud, or other criminal offence
  • A miscarriage of justice
  • A risk to colleague and/or public health and safety
  • A risk or actual damage to the environment
  • A breach of any other legal or professional obligation
  • Discriminatory behaviour
  • Someone is covering up wrongdoing

The “Speak Up” service is not for grievances. A grievance is usually a complaint about something that impacts a colleague as an individual, like how they feel they’re being treated at work. Please see the ‘FAQ’ section below for more information.

How do I Speak Up?

Report online in your local language using the Country selection options below

Or directly through the “Report an Incident” option below

Or you can contact your, free and confidential, “Speak up” service 24/7 by calling Safecall.

For a full list of country freephone numbers visit: www.safecall.co.uk/file-a-report/telephone-numbers/ 

Your report won’t be traced and Safecall has trained operators to support you

 

As part of your report please think about: 

  • Providing clear details about where and when the issue occurred. This should include BSI location (for example, name and address of depot / office), dates and any colleagues involved / aware. This will make our investigations a lot easier.
  • You have the opportunity to remain anonymous. While doing so may help you feel more comfortable raising a concern, it may also impact our ability to successfully investigate and resolve the matter. You can also remain partially anonymous, whereby Safecall won’t share your name with BSI. Making yourself available to be contacted may help the investigator to fully understand the issue and take appropriate action.

FAQs Section

 

It is important for BSI to be aware of any potential non-compliant behaviour in its business activities

 

When you timely report suspected misconduct, it allows for BSI to assess and, as needed, address the related risks as soon as possible and to mitigate/ avoid further harm

 

This contributes to the long-term success of BSI

You can report any suspected violation of the law or of BSI’s Code of Business Ethics or any internal policies. We take all types of complaints seriously.

The “Speak Up” service is not for grievances. It’s important to understand that whistleblowing is different to a grievance. Both are equally important and need to be investigated. A grievance is usually a complaint about something that impacts a colleague as an individual, like how they feel they’re being treated at work.

We have a separate Grievance Process to manage these concerns, please contact your People representative for further information.

Whether you contact Safecall through the online ‘Share a Workplace Concern’ option above, your report will be managed in confidence. Safecall will pass all the information you give, apart from your name if you wish, to the BSI Compliance and Ethics Team who will make sure your concern is looked into thoroughly, confidentially and independently. 

If we need more information to help progress our investigation, we’ll post a request on the Safecall website which you can access using the username and password provided during your original report. You can provide further information, or request feedback on your concern, via the Safecall website. Please leave 5 working days to allow us to make preliminary enquiries.

In addition, you can report suspected misconduct directly to the Compliance and Ethics Team on compliance@bsigroup.com 

You have the opportunity to remain anonymous. You may feel more comfortable raising a concern anonymously. Please be aware that an anonymous report may impact our ability to investigate and resolve the matter successfully. You can also remain partially anonymous, whereby Safecall won’t share your name with BSI. If the investigator can contact you, it may help them fully understand the issue and take appropriate action.

It’s important that we keep things confidential, so we may not be able to tell you about any investigations or actions we take in relation to the issue you’ve told us about. But any updates we are able to provide to you, we trust you treat the information we give you as confidential.

Retaliation against an employee or other reporter (e.g., individual who has a business relationship with BSI) who raises compliance concerns in good faith and to the best of their knowledge is strictly prohibited.

If you have reason to believe that you have been subjected to retaliation, please notify the Compliance and Ethics Team, or submit a report via the “Speak Up” service.