Skanem whistleblower channel

Skanem has established a Whistleblower Channel enabling employees and external parties to report concerns about possible illegal actions and breaches of Skanem’s Code of Conduct.

What can be reported?

Skanem encourages everyone to report issues of concern that may threaten the company’s finances, operations or reputation. This includes violations in areas such as health, security & environment, people and labor standards, financial integrity, confidentiality, conflict of interest, bribery and corruption and fair dealing. 

You decide what information is to be reported. However, to ensure sufficient information and be able to perform adequate follow-up actions, the reports should include as much details as possible and, if available, supporting evidence.

How to report a concern

We strongly prefer direct communication, but respect that can be difficult. You may therefore use Skanem’s independent Whistleblower Channel managed by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). PwC is committed to a high ethical standard and will handle all notifications confidentially.

You have three ways of using the Whistleblower Channel:

Report anonymously

You may report anonymously, but when doing so you must be aware that the receiver cannot give feedback.

Proper investigation may prove difficult if the information provided cannot be tested or verified and the investigator is unable to obtain further information from the whistleblower.

How concerns are handled

Skanem’s basic principles for handling reports are:

  • All reports are taken seriously
  • Fair, open and objective follow-up
  • Protection of anonymous whistleblowing
  • Confidentiality and information security
  • No whistleblowing will be subject to reprisals
  • Non-anonymous whistleblowing will get timely feedback and information about the process

PwC will perform a preliminary evaluation and quality assurance of all notifications received through the Whistleblower Channel before delivering an initial report to EVP Organisation, HR & CSR at Skanem HQ. If the report reveals conditions that require investigation, an investigation team will be appointed.

Unless the person making a report has chosen to remain anonymous, he/she shall receive sufficient information on the continuing process and outcomes within due time.

Protection of sources

The identity of the person reporting shall not be disclosed, unless permission in writing has been obtained from the notifying party. The protection of identity shall also be taken into consideration during the initial evaluation and the subsequent risk assessment when scoping the investigation, hereunder the existing level of risk exposure without disclosing the name of the notifying party.

All investigations will be conducted in a confidential manner, so that information will be disclosed only as needed to facilitate review of the investigation or otherwise as required by law.

Misuse

Reporters who notify in good faith, will not face any risk of retaliation or other unfavorable treatment, even if it is later discovered that they were mistaken.
However, appropriate disciplinary or legal action will be taken in against any person who is found to have made a disclosure maliciously that they know to be untrue, or without reasonable grounds for believing that the information supplied was accurate. 

Personal data

Handling of reports of concerns will be done in accordance with the Norwegian Personal Data Act and Regulations on the Processing of Personal Data.