Whistleblowing system for reporting compliance violations
The new whistleblowing system for reporting compliance violations
Information on the whistleblower system
Legally and honest conduct is expected at Forschungszentrum Jülich. Such conduct is crucial for the long-term success of Jülich as a research centre.
Any reports of criminal offences, regulatory offences, or serious non-compliance with internal regulations incriminating Forschungszentrum Jülich (breaches of compliance) are therefore taken seriously and pursued.
For these reasons, Forschungszentrum Jülich has set up a digital whistleblowing system that facilitates the anonymous reporting of compliance breaches. The system is monitored by the compliance officer. It supplements the established contact points and provides an additional option for reporting misconduct.
The whistleblowing system is operated by German company LegalTegrity GmbH. The system is available around the clock in German and English. It can be accessed using any Internet-capable device. It is also possible to report information using a telephone hotline (see below). The whistleblowing system can also be used by external persons who are in contact with Forschungszentrum Jülich in the course of their professional activities or who wish to report rule violations that affect the FZJ.
How to use the whistleblower system
Whistleblower system
Secure communication
The whistleblowing system is fully encrypted, ensuring secure communication between the whistleblower and the compliance officer. It is impossible to trace a report back to the person who originally submitted it. Every report received is carefully assessed and any breaches are thoroughly investigated. All reports are treated confidentially and processed in accordance with applicable legal regulations. The solution that has been implemented ensures that data protection and anonymity are guaranteed at all times.
Using the whistleblowing system
The whistleblowing system should only be used if reporting an incident to one of Jülich's established contact points is out of the question for the person concerned. It should be borne in mind that a report can have consequences for third parties, and, in some cases, for the whistleblower too. The whistleblowing system should only be used if the reporting person had reasonable grounds to believe that the information reported on breaches of applicable regulations in the professional context was true at the time of reporting. It is also important that the situation be described in as much detail as possible and that the allegation of misconduct is based on substantiated and well-founded facts and evidence.
Protection of the whistleblower
Whistleblowers must be protected from retaliation and from any disadvantages as a result of reporting the breach.
However, any person who maliciously reports false information is not protected. Such individuals are obliged to provide compensation for damages and must face consequences in the form of criminal and disciplinary action. Please also read the information for whistleblowers (in German) published by Transparency International Deutschland e. V.
Link to the whistleblowing system
If you would like to report a breach, please click on the following link
It will take you directly to the homepage of the whistleblowing system, where a questionnaire will lead you through the process of reporting a breach.
Hotline for whistleblowing
The hotline is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00: +49 800 3800-999
The hotline is free of charge when you call from a German landline or German mobile phone number.Phone calls are answered by employees of LegalTegrity GmbH. These employees have been specially trained for this task and are bound by an obligation of confidentiality. The anonymity of the caller is therefore guaranteed. To protect their anonymity, the caller should not state their name their name when they call the hotline and they should withhold their number.
Contact the compliance officer
Any questions regarding the whistleblowing system should be addressed to the compliance officer of Forschungszentrum Jülich at: 02461 61 2999 or compliance@fz-juelich.de.
