Our Way 1
WHISTLEBLOWING TEXT RICKARD HALLING LINDHOLM PHOT
O OLLE HOLDAR, ADOBE STOCK Wanted: WHISTLE BLOWERS Soya Group’s whistle-blower function is two years old now, and so far, no case covered by law has been reported. The question is: Are all the companies in the group doing extraordinarily well, do co-workers not know how to use it, or are there other explanations? A n EU law made it mandatory in 2022 for all companies with more than 249 employees to have a whistle-blowing system in place that ensures the anonymity of those reporting wrongdoing. The change was welcomed by Soya Group. “We have always worked hard to maintain transparency and high ethical values across the business. For us, it’s important that all our co-workers – no matter where in the world they are based – know how to use the system, feel comfortable using it and are reassured that their identities won’t be revealed,” says Marion Ros, Vice President, Group Human Resources, Soya Group. FOLLOWING THE LAW is one thing, but the whistle-blower function is also a great tool for Soya Group to ensure that things are done properly and to identify risks and misconduct within the organisation. “We want to be a force for ethical behaviour in all the businesses we’re a part of. The idea is that all co-workers are able to alert management when they encounter irregularities affecting people, society, the environment, or our organisation,” says Marion. WE WANT TO BE A FORCE FOR ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR IN ALL THE INDUSTRIES WE’RE A PART OF. NO REPORTS ISSUED may sound like either a good thing or a failure of the function, but it’s a common result according to Setterwalls, the law firm that manages the reports. Instead of leaning back, Marion and her team have instead increased their efforts to inform and educate all co-workMarion Ros VP Group HR Soya Group ers about the whistle-blower function. “We have co-workers across the world, and it is very important that information about the whistle-blower system is spread to every single one, and to make sure that they understand how it works, and why it is important to us. I hear that some co-workers question the anonymity of this system, but I guarantee that there is no way for us to look into who has made the report. To be sure of anonymity, we recommend that you log off the intranet when using this function,” says Marion. 24 OUR WAY 1/2024 EXAMPLES OF REPORTING THAT IS PROTECTED BY THE WHISTLE-BLOWER DIRECTIVE CORRUPTION A manager hires friends and family for important positions, even though there are more qualified candidates for the job. BRIBES Someone accepts expensive gifts from a subcontractor, who works for or at the company in question. OTHER WRONGS You are being harassed by a colleague or a manager and feel like you can’t address the situation with your closest manager. DID YOU KNOW As a co-worker in the Swedish land-based companies in Soya Group you can read more about the whistle-blower function, Whistle B, in the personnel handbook on the intranet. Crew members can find the same information on their salary and planning platform.