Whistleblowing: Complaints system at Mazars
The HinSchG allows the confidential reporting of violations of German criminal laws and some fine regulations in particular, as well as more specific, directly applicable EU law. Mazars has also decided to allow reports of violations of our Code of Conduct. The LkSG also provides for a complaints procedure, although the issues that can be reported are more narrowly defined. This includes reports on human rights and environmental risks, as well as violations of human rights or environmental obligations that can be traced back to the company’s own business activities or those of a supplier (supply chain).
The goal is to uncover incidents and remedy grievances that can be considered breaches of law and duty and/or criminal offences within the company. The priority in this matter is that whistleblowers, i.e. individuals who submit a report under the HinSchG or a complaint under the LkSG, are protected from retaliation. According to the HinSchG, this protection also extends to other individuals affected by the report.
For this purpose, Mazars has established a complaints system in Germany, in accordance with the HinSchG, with an independent internal reporting office. This office also serves as the point of contact for the company’s internal complaints procedure, as prescribed by the LkSG. The reporting office is open to anyone who has a professional or business relationship with Mazars, from executives and employees to third parties such as service providers or suppliers. The complaints procedure under the LkSG, on the other hand, is open to all individuals, regardless of professional or business connections. People who do not work for Mazars in Germany and wish to submit a report in accordance with the LkSG can select the category “Environmental Risks or Violations (LkSG) or “Human Rights Risks or Violations (LkSG)”.
Whistleblowers can contact the reporting office directly via the Vispato whistleblowing tool at the following link: https://www.whistleblower.mazars.de/
There are several different ways to submit reports: they can be written, verbally, or in at person-meetings, and can be completely anonymous if desired.
You can download the rules of procedure for the Mazars complaints system in Germany in accordance with the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act here.
