Whistleblower system - VBB Trustbox
As part of our compliance consulting services, we offer our clients the VBB Trustbox for the legally compliant establishment and operation of legally privileged and - if required - web-based whistleblowing systems.
A whistleblowing system is a kind of early warning system for identifying and combating wrongdoing in the company as part of corporate risk management. Whistleblowers who can initially turn to a trustworthy authority within the company are less motivated to inform external bodies such as the press or the public prosecutor's office. This gives the company the opportunity to uncover and remedy any compliance violations itself and avert reputational damage as far as possible.
On the basis of the EU Whistleblower Directive, the German legislator has since passed the Whistleblower Protection Act, which provides for a specific legal obligation to set up a whistleblower system that, in the case of violation, is subject to fines. Every private company with 50 or more employees (this restriction does not apply to public companies) is obliged to set up reporting channels that enable employees to confidentially report any infrigements committed within the company.
In addition, since 1 January 2023, the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act has engaged companies with at least 3,000 employees to set up an internal complaints procedure that enables employees and external parties to report human rights and environmental risks or breaches of duty. From 1 January 2024, this obligation also applies to companies with 1,000 or more employees.
On the basis of the EU Whistleblower Directive, the German legislator has since passed the Whistleblower Protection Act, which provides for a specific legal obligation to set up a whistleblower system that, in the case of violation, is subject to fines. Every private company with 50 or more employees (this restriction does not apply to public companies) is obliged to set up reporting channels that enable employees to confidentially report any infrigements committed within the company.
In addition, since 1 January 2023, the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act has engaged companies with at least 3,000 employees to set up an internal complaints procedure that enables employees and external parties to report human rights and environmental risks or breaches of duty. From 1 January 2024, this obligation also applies to companies with 1,000 or more employees.
We offer the legally compliant establishment and operation of whistleblower systems by ombudspersons with legal privileges. Such a whistleblower system can be used as a reporting channel not only via an
- (anonymous) telephone hotline as well as
- a privileged (and therefore anonymous) e-mail communication,
but also an
- IT-based, technically anonymised web application.
We also offer our clients such a web-based whistleblowing system including a case management system with our VBB Trustbox.
With the VBB Trustbox, we offer our clients not only a technical platform for the anonymous receipt of reports, but also legal expertise, the advantages of attorney-client confidentiality and the legal processing of compliance incidents as well as legally secure reporting.
