ODTUG Whistleblower Policy

ODTUG Whistleblower Policy

ODTUG requires directors, officers, volunteers, administrative staff, and employees to observe high standards of business and personal ethics in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities. As representatives of ODTUG, we must practice honesty and integrity in fulfilling our responsibilities and we must comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Reporting Responsibility 

ODTUG encourages complaints, reports, or inquiries about illegal practices or serious violations of ODTUG’s policies, including illegal or improper conduct by ODTUG itself, by its leadership, or by others on its behalf. It is the responsibility of all board members, volunteers, and others to report concerns about violations of law or regulations that govern ODTUG’s operations.

No Retaliation

This Whistleblower Policy is intended to encourage and enable board members, volunteers, employees, and others to report concerns within ODTUG for investigation and appropriate action. With this goal in mind, no director, volunteer, contract laborer, or employee who, in good faith, reports a concern shall be subject to retaliation. Moreover, a volunteer or anyone else who retaliates against someone who has reported a concern in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including dismissal from the volunteer position, termination of employment, or termination of a contractual relationship.

Reporting Procedure

Complaints or concerns should be reported in writing to the Compliance Deputy. The Compliance Deputy is responsible for ensuring that all complaints about unethical or illegal conduct are investigated and resolved. The Compliance Deputy shall promptly report the claim to the Executive Director, unless the report relates to the Executive Director, in which case it should be reported to the President of ODTUG.

If the complaint involves both the Executive Director and the President, then the claim will be reported to the ODTUG Board of Directors. The Executive Director or President shall promptly report the claim to the ODTUG board of directors. The board of directors will conduct a prompt, discreet, and objective investigation and report their findings to the Compliance Deputy.

The Compliance Deputy will notify the complainant of the results of the investigation. Complaints or concerns should be reported in writing to ODTUG Compliance Deputy, via e-mail at  compliance@odtug.com, or via hard-copy mail, sent to:

ODTUG
attn: Compliance Deputy
3112 Enterprise Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405. 

Acting in Good Faith

Anyone filing a written complaint must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing the information disclosed indicates a violation. The act of making allegations that prove to be unsubstantiated, and that prove to have been made maliciously, in bad faith, or are knowingly false, will be viewed as a serious disciplinary offense and may result in discipline, up to and including dismissal from the volunteer position or termination of employment or a contractual relationship.

Such conduct may also give rise to other actions, including civil lawsuit.

Confidentiality

Complaints or concerns may be made under this policy on a confidential or anonymous basis. Complaints or concerns will be kept confidential to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct an adequate investigation.

Complainants recognize that ODTUG may not be able to fully evaluate a vague or general complaint, report, or inquiry that is made anonymously.