SWAROVSKI OPTIK /KAHLES - whistleblower/reporting channel
This is the central reporting channel for information regarding possible violations in accordance with the Austrian Whistleblower Protection Act (HSchG) for SWAROVSKI OPTIK companies based in Absam and for KAHLES GmbH.
On this page, you can create a new secure report or follow up on an existing report (please scroll down).
Reporting serious issues/violations
You can submit information about reasonable suspicions, knowledge of actual or potential violations, and attempts to conceal such violations that have already been committed or are very likely to occur.
- It is important that you, as a whistleblower, “can assume, at the time of the report, on the basis of the actual circumstances and the information available to you, sufficient reasons to believe that the information you provide is true and falls within the scope of federal law (see below). Clearly false information must be rejected with the indication that compensation is imminent and can be prosecuted in court or as an administrative violation.
On which topics can I report?
These topics are taxatively provided for by the legislator:
- Public procurement
- Financial services, financial products and financial markets, and prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing
- Product safety and compliance
- roadworthiness
- environmental protection
- Radiation protection and nuclear safety
- Food and feed safety, animal health and animal welfare
- public health
- consumer protection
- Protection of privacy and personal data and security of network and information systems
- Prevention and prosecution of crimes in accordance with Sections 302 to 309 StGB (corruption: abuse of authority, bribery, taking advantage, granting of benefits, prohibited intervention)
- Violations affecting the financial interests of the Union (including money laundering, fraud, abuses of funding, infidelity and restrictive agreements in procurement procedures, if to the detriment of the EU's financial interests)
- Violation of corporate tax rules
In addition to the categories provided for by law, reports can also be submitted on the categories of the
Code of Conduct for Employees:
- Sustainability and social responsibility: This includes the topics of human rights, fair working conditions, prohibition of discrimination, harassment and environmental protection.
- Health and occupational safety
- Conflicts of interest: This includes business, friendship and family ties, secondary employment, financial interests, business relationships with family members and friends and political activities.
- Our business relationships with partners: procurement, contract design, consultants and intermediaries in sales, authorities and political officials, political representation of interests, business relationships with authorities, conduct towards our competitors - fair play, competition and antitrust law as well as association meetings and interest groups.
- Truthful communication
- Combating corruption: gifts, invitations, benefits, donations and sponsorship.
- Money laundering and terrorist financing
- Product conformity/material compliance
- Export and import: supply principles, import bans and restrictions, sanctions and embargoes.
- Dealing with company property: private use of operating resources, protection of intellectual property.
- Protection of information: External communication, social media, handling trade and business secrets, safeguarding data protection and data security.
Which topics is this system not intended for?
- General inquiries or complaints from customers (with the exception of product safety and compliance)
- General suggestions for improvement
- Personnel related matters: Personnel issues cannot be reported in this system. Instead, these should be discussed with the direct supervisor, the managing director or the HR department.
- Submission of deliberately false reports
You can submit reports both by providing your contact details and 100% anonymously.
Reports can be submitted in writing or orally (via an audio recording).
Your report and identity will be kept confidential and all data security and data protection requirements will be met.
Data access to the system is very restrictive and the group of people with access is obliged to protect the identity of the whistleblower.
Further information on the topic can be found on the “Explanatory Information” page. Detailed instructions on how to operate the system can be found on the “User Guide” page.
Tracking your notifications can be relevant for a number of reasons:
1) You can view the status of your report to see if action is being taken.
2) You can add further information to the message.
3) The system administrator has asked you for additional information that is necessary to resolve the issue or take appropriate action.