Why should I submit a report?

Compliance with statutory regulations and company-internal rules is part of a positive and open company culture. Perhaps you are aware of damaging behaviour or risks that endanger the company. With your report, you help to uncover irregularities early on, allowing KAEFER to take action before any harm has been done, if possible. In this way, you contribute to the long-term success of KAEFER.

We want to effectively protect you as whistleblower and offer you here a communication platform secured with the newest technologies to permit the submission of personalised or anonymous reports. You alone decide if you want to remain anonymous or not.

What incidents can be reported?

You can submit reports that refer to possible compliance violations, especially in the area of business crimes (e. g. acts of corruption), violations of KAEFER’s Code of Business Conduct and Supplier Code of Conduct, and serious risks and violations of human rights and environment in our Supply Chain (as per the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act).

Detailed information on the possible report categories relating to business activities is provided during the reporting process. Please restrict yourself to the specified report categories.

What is the process for submitting a report? How do I set up a postbox?

To submit a report anonymously or by name, start by clicking the “Submit Report” button located on the top left side of our introduction page.

The reporting process consists of 4 steps:

1. First, you will be asked to read the information on the protection of your anonymity and to answer a security query.
2. On the following page, you will be asked about the category of your report.
3. On the report page, you can elaborate on your report in your own words and answer questions about the case by selecting responses. You can type up to 5.000 characters into the free text field, which corresponds to a full page. You may also submit a file of up to 5 MB to support your report. Please bear in mind that documents can contain information about the author. Following the submission of your report, you will receive a reference number to confirm that you have sent this report.
4. Please subsequently set up your own secured postbox. This postbox will allow you to receive our feedback or reply to questions.

If you already have a secured postbox, you can access it directly via the ‘Login' button. Here, too, you will have to first answer a security query.

As long as you do not enter any data that could reveal your identity, the system provides technical protection of your anonymity.

Is my anonymity protected and how do I receive feedback?

The procedure used here protects whistleblowers who do not wish to reveal their names. The system's anonymity protection function is certified by an independent body.

When setting up your secured postbox, please select your own pseudonym/user name and password. Your report is kept anonymous through encryption and other specialised security measures.

You will never be asked for personal information at any time during the reporting process. Do not submit any information that can be traced back to you. Please do not use a computer provided by your employer to submit your report.

Via the secured postbox, an examiner can ask you questions if some details are still unclear - you remain anonymous throughout the dialogue.

However, we hope that you will share your name with us. Many investigations can be carried out more quickly and effectively if the name of the whistleblower is known. The examiner can then directly contact the whistleblower.
We are interested in reports to avoid damage, not in you as a whistleblower.

In what way does KAEFER evaluate my report?

After your report is received, a member of the Compliance organisation evaluates whether an in-depth investigation is required and initiates the corresponding steps. If parties at KAEFER outside of the Compliance department are responsible for the topic reported by you – even if you remain within the reporting categories – your report will be forwarded to these parties.

Via the postbox, you can be asked questions about your report by the Compliance department. For reasons of data protection, however, we cannot share with you any details on the outcome of the investigation and any consequences that may have arisen.