The platform you are about to access complies with French and international legal requirements, enabling anyone to submit a report. The goal of this system is to encourage the reporting of situations and behaviors by employees, managing agents or franchisees that violate laws, regulations, or the B&B Group Code of Conduct.
This system is optional.
It is not intended to replace existing traditional reporting channels applicable in each country, such as the hierarchical route or employee representative bodies, where applicable. Employees may continue to use those channels if they prefer.
However, concerns raised through these other channels will not be treated as whistleblowing reports under this procedure.
a. Whistleblower
This list is not exhaustive:
- You may be an employee of the Group (regardless of your contract: permanent, fixed-term, full-time, part-time, intern, apprentice, etc.), a former employee, a customer, or an employee of a partner, supplier or service provider.
- You may also be a managing agent, franchisee, or an employee of one of them.
- You may be an employee of cleaning or security companies, construction workers involved in our renovation projects, or personnel working on B&B Group sites under construction.
You submit your report selflessly (without direct financial compensation) and in good faith. A report is considered to be made in “good faith” when you provide information that you believe to be complete, honest and accurate, and which leads you to reasonably believe in the truthfulness of the reported facts, even if they later turn out to be incorrect.
You may be either the direct or indirect victim of the reported facts. You may also report facts you have witnessed or that have been brought to your attention in the course of your professional duties.
You may choose to submit your report under your name. However, the platform also allows for anonymous submissions and handling of reports.
b. Types of Reportable Incidents
The reported facts may include:
- A crime or offense (corruption, embezzlement, theft, misuse of company assets, violence, sexual assault, rape, purchase of sexual services and prostitution, drug trafficking, etc.)
- A violation of an international commitment duly ratified or approved by France (e.g., fighting modern slavery)
- A threat to or harm against the public interest (public health, public safety, etc.)
- A serious violation or risk of violation of human rights or fundamental freedoms (harassment, abuse of power, discrimination, racist insults, death threats, etc.)
- A serious violation or risk of violation of individuals' health or safety or the environment (e.g., pollution)
Reports may also relate to breaches of the Group’s values and Code of Conduct (e.g., violations of political or religious neutrality).
The examples provided are for illustrative purposes only.
c. Principles Governing the Handling of Your Report
Your identity will remain confidential when you submit a report and throughout the process.
Only designated case handlers will receive the information you submit through this form.
You will be able to track your report and communicate with the case handlers using a confidential code generated by the platform upon submission. Each report has its own discussion space for exchanging messages.
Each report will undergo a thorough and detailed analysis, if necessary. As part of the investigation, case handlers may carry out any inquiries they deem necessary to determine whether the alert is substantiated.
To this end, they may involve line managers (provided they are not the subject of the report) or any employee whose involvement is necessary for the investigation or handling of the report, all while strictly maintaining confidentiality.
Case handlers may also, if necessary, appoint external service providers, who will be required to adhere to the highest confidentiality standards.
Finally, please note that the whistleblower is protected under this system if the conditions described above are met. This protection is also extended to:
- Facilitators (i.e., any non-profit individual or legal entity who assists the whistleblower in making the report)
- Individuals connected to the whistleblower (e.g., those who may be subject to retaliation in their professional environment as a result of the report)
- Legal entities with which the whistleblower works or is professionally affiliated
