Whistleblower
Hanken promotes open science and research as well as gender equality and equal treatment among its employees. Hanken also strives to maintain a good administrative culture and to prevent misconduct and irregularities. If there are suspicions of wrongdoing in connection with Hanken's operations, it is extremely important that the suspicion in question comes to light. Via Hanken's whistleblowing channel, a person who, in work-related activities at Hanken, receives information about or suspicion of activities that harm the public interest in the areas specified below, can report their suspicion. Through the whistleblowing channel, Hanken wants to prevent and detect any misconduct and protect those who report misconduct.
The purpose of whistleblowing
The purpose of whistleblowing is to reveal and stop wrongdoing and irregularities concerning breaches of Union law. The EU Whistleblowing Directive (EU Directive 2019/1937), which entered into force in December 2019, obliges employers to ensure that there is an internal whistleblowing function. Persons who, in their work-related activities, receive information about or a suspicion of activities that harm the public interest in specified areas of Union law must be able to report this in a safe and easy way. The law on the protection of persons who report violations entered into force on 1.1.2023. The law contains, among other things, a provision where both direct and indirect reprisals against whistleblowers are prohibited. Hanken ensures that whistleblower protection is in accordance with current legislation.
What can be reported?
An employee or people who come into contact with operations at Hanken in work-related contexts can report suspected violations in the following areas:
- public procurement,
- financial services, products, and markets,
- prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism,
- product safety and product compliance,
- transport safety,
- environmental protection,
- radiation and nuclear safety,
- food and feed safety and animal health and well-being,
- public health according to Article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
- consumer protection,
- protection of privacy and personal data, and
- security in network and information systems.
What cannot be reported and penalties for unfounded reporting
Whistleblowing concerns misconduct of larger interests, which means that a personal dissatisfaction or complaint (e.g. personnel issues or research ethics) is not a matter for whistleblowing.
If an employee or persons who come into contact with operations at Hanken in work-related contexts intentionally report or publish false information, the penalty for such actions may be a warning or a termination of the employment contract on the grounds specified in the Employment Contracts Act or may entail liability for damages based on an agreement, the Damages Act or a special law.
Reporting suspected violations
If you receive information about or suspect that Hanken's activities harm the public interest in the areas specified above, you can report it through Hanken's whistleblowing channel in webropol. The report can be made anonymously. You will receive an automatic notification that your report has been received.
If you are not sure whether the offense or abuse relates to Hanken's operations, you can make a report via the Centralised external reporting channel of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice Opens in new window .
Processing of whistleblowing reports
Hanken's lawyer reads the reports and assesses whether the matter falls within the scope of the whistleblowing directive and initiates necessary investigations. Within three months of receiving a confirmation of receipt of the report, you will be informed of the actions taken based on your report. If you have made an anonymous report, Hanken will not inform you of the measures taken. Reports are always treated confidentially, and your identity is protected throughout the process.
Contact in other matters
If you want to respond to something in Hanken's operations that does not fall within the scope of the whistleblowing process, you can contact us via personalarenden@hanken.fi or studieinfo@hanken.fi.