FAQ - Whistleblower

Who can be qualified as a “whistleblower”?

Any natural person (not a legal entity such as a company or association) who reports or discloses, without direct financial compensation and in good faith, information concerning:
> a crime (e.g. murder)
> an offence (e.g. corruption, influence peddling, endangering the life of others)
> a threat or prejudice to the public interest (e.g. harm to public health or the environment)
> a violation or an attempt to conceal a violation of :
     > international law,  
     > European Union law,  
     > law or regulation. 

Does the whistleblower have to have personal knowledge of the facts he or she is reporting?

No, a whistleblower can report facts that have been brought to his or her attention.

What protection does whistleblower status provide?

The whistleblower benefit from :
> protection against any retaliatory measures that may be taken against him/her as a result of the whistleblowing. The law prohibits any person from taking unfavorable decisions against the whistleblower in connection with his or her alert.
> no criminal or civil liability,
> guaranteed confidentiality.

Is the whistleblower the only person who can benefit from the protection afforded by his or her status?

No, the same protection also applies to :
> natural or legal persons under private non-profit law, who help a whistleblower to make a report or disclosure, known as “facilitators”.  
> natural persons in contact with the whistleblower who risk reprisals in the course of their professional activities on the part of their employer, their client or the recipient of their services;
> legal entities controlled by the whistleblower, for which he or she works or with which he or she has a professional relationship.

How should I report?

In a privileged way, follow the internal procedure set up by the company. This can be found on the https://www.dickson-constant.com/en/ website, in the compliance section. Your Ethics Officer remains at your disposal and is bound by an absolute obligation of confidentiality at all times.
In France, it is also possible to submit a request to an external authority. There is a list of authorities designated by Decree no. 2022-1284 of October 3, 2022 (judicial authorities, European institutions, defender of rights, etc.). 

How can the whistleblower benefit from the protection afforded by his/her status?

By meeting the 2 cumulative conditions below:
> meet the definition of whistleblower laid down by law  
> respect the procedure for reporting the facts of the alert.