To whom is the whistleblower system at Johannes Kepler University Linz directed?
Do you have any information or knowledge of violations against Union law at the Johannes Kepler University Linz? Your tip-off contributes significantly to ensuring legally compliant and ethical conduct at the JKU.
This reporting system is available to all employees at the Johannes Kepler University Linz in order to submit information providing information about any violation(s) of EU law. Information and consulting with committees, such as the Works Council and the Working Group for Equal Opportunity, in respect to legal violations of any kind (i.e. not only regarding the Whistle Blower Protection Act) remain unaffected and you can, of course, continue to remain in contact with these groups independently of this option. Students can contact the Austrian Student Union, opens an external URL in a new window, but can also submit information in compliance with the Whistle Blower Protection Acts here.
How can I submit information?
You can use our online information system to voluntarily submit any (suspected) information regarding suspicion of misconduct as outlined in the Whistleblower Protection Act. Only selected employees at the Internal Auditing department will be able to view the information you submit. Information you provide can help uncover internal misconduct and potential risks to ultimately develop preventative measures.
Online Reporting System, opens an external URL in a new window
When submitting your report, you can decide whether or not you wish to submit information anonymously or use your name. Once submit information via the browser, you will receive a link and a password. Please keep the link and the password in a safe place; if lost, you will be unable to access to your report in the system and the department cannot restore the information. We can assure you that we will process the information in a careful, confidential manner. As we process the information, we will carefully examine each reported tip and, if necessary, initiate the appropriate, corresponding follow-up measures.
Following Your Report
Once received, the information will be handled with the same care and discretion according to the following procedure:
- Review and evaluation of initial information (applying the Whistleblower Protection Act)
- If relevant, initiate a special audit/revision
- Prepare and conduct an investigation
- Evaluate and coordinate the interim results
- Set up of measures following an investigation by responsible person(s) / responsible bodies
- Prepare and distribute the special audit report
- Anonymize and store/archive documents
Whistleblowers will receive separate feedback regarding the interim and final investigation findings via the online reporting system.
What kind of protection can whistleblowers expect?
Under the Whistleblower Protection Act, in order to be protected as a whistleblower, the information you provide must be submitted in a minimum of one of the following reporting categories:
- Public procurement
- Financial services, financial products and financial markets, and preventing money laundering and financing terrorism
- Infringements against financial interests pertaining to the European Union
- Infringements of internal market rules
- Public health
- Environmental protection
- Privacy and personal data protection and security of network and information systems
- Product safety and conformity
- Consumer protection
- Transportation safety
- Radiation protection and nuclear safety
- Food and feed safety, animal health and welfare
The Whistleblower Protection Act stipulates that whistleblowers themselves - as well as intermediaries, colleagues and relatives - are to be protected from any adverse consequences. In this regard, the employer is not permitted to take the following legal steps:
- Terminate whistleblower
- Initiate disciplinary action
- Deny promotion
- Reduce salary
- Reduce the scope of the whistleblower's duties and responsibilities
- Submit a negative performance review
In addition, and in accordance with Art. 14 of the GDPR, any employee accused by a whistleblower has the right to be informed of the circumstances and content in the submitted report. In addition, and in accordance with Art. 15 of the GDPR, the employee has the right to information with regard to his/her processed data.
What happens when false reports, any breaches of confidentiality, or obstructing leads are reported?
Whoever
- obstructs, or seeks to obstruct, whistleblowers, and/or those who assist them in reporting a whistleblower, and/or puts pressure on whistleblowers through deliberate judicial or administrative proceedings,
- undertakes any prohibited action in retaliation for whistleblowing,
- violates the terms of confidentiality,
- knowingly submits a false tip-off,
is committing an administrative offense and, provided the offense is not subject to a more severe penalty under another provision, is liable to pay a fine of up to € 20,000, or € 40,000 in repeated cases, imposed by the district administrative authority.
