Whistle-blowing Policy

This policy was previously approved by the Board and is currently under review.

This policy applies to all staff, trustees, and volunteers of Wikimedia UK. It also applies to individuals outside these categories with a concern about the organisation.

Introduction

Employees may be the first to realise that there is something seriously wrong within Wikimedia UK. However, they may not express their concerns because they feel that speaking up would be disloyal to their colleagues or to the organisation. They may also fear harassment or victimisation. In these circumstances it may be easier to ignore the concern rather than report what may just be a suspicion of malpractice.

Wikimedia UK is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity and accountability. In line with that commitment we expect employees, volunteers and others that we deal with, who have serious concerns about any aspect of the charity’s work to come forward and voice those concerns. It is recognised that most cases will have to proceed on a confidential basis.

This whistle-blowing policy is intended to encourage and enable employees to raise serious concerns within the charity rather than overlooking a problem or airing their complaints outside the charity; and makes it clear that they can do so without fear of victimisation, subsequent discrimination or disadvantage.

This policy is in addition to Wikimedia UK’s complaints policy. Staff are responsible for making volunteers and service users aware of the existence of this policy.

Aims and Scope

This policy is designed to enable employees of Wikimedia UK and others with a concern about Wikimedia UK to raise them and to disclose information which the individual believes shows malpractice or impropriety. This policy is intended to cover concerns which are in the public interest and may at least initially be investigated separately, but then might lead to the invocation of other procedures e.g. disciplinary. These concerns include:

a) Financial malpractice, impropriety or fraud.
b) Failure to comply with a legal obligation or statutes.
c) Dangers to Health & Safety or the environment.
d) Conduct which is a breach of the law.
e) Improper behaviour or unethical behaviour.
f) Attempts to conceal any of these.

There are existing procedures in place to enable you to lodge a grievance relating to employment matters.

This policy aims to:

• encourage individuals to feel confident in raising serious concerns and to question and act upon concerns about practice
• provide avenues for individuals to raise those concerns and receive feedback on any action taken
• ensure that a timely response is received to concerns and that individuals are aware of how to pursue them if not satisfied
• offer reassurance that people will be protected from possible reprisals or victimisation if they have a reasonable belief that they have made any disclosure in good faith.

Safeguards

This policy is designed to offer protection to those employees and volunteers of Wikimedia UK and anyone else who disclose such concerns provided the disclosure is made:

• in good faith
• in the reasonable belief of the individual making the disclosure that it tends to show malpractice or impropriety and if they make the disclosure to an appropriate person (see below). It is important to note that no protection from internal disciplinary procedures is offered to staff who choose not to use the procedure.

Wikimedia UK is committed to good practice and high standards and wants to be supportive of employees.

Wikimedia UK recognises that the decision to report a concern can be a difficult one to make. If what is reported is true, individuals should have nothing to fear because they will be doing a duty to Wikimedia UK.

Wikimedia UK will not tolerate any harassment or victimisation (including informal pressures) and will take appropriate action to protect people when they raise a concern in good faith.

Any investigation into allegations of potential malpractice will not influence or be influenced by any disciplinary or redundancy procedures that already affect staff involved.

Confidentiality

Wikimedia UK will treat all such disclosures in a confidential and sensitive manner. The identity of the individual making the allegation may be kept confidential so long as it does not hinder or frustrate any investigation. However, the investigation process may reveal the source of the information and the individual making the disclosure may need to provide a statement as part of the evidence required.

Anonymous Allegations

This policy encourages individuals to put their name (which may, in the case of Wikimedia editors, include a pseudonymous Username) to any disclosures they make. Concerns expressed anonymously are much less credible, but they may be considered at the discretion of Wikimedia UK.

In exercising this discretion, the factors to be taken into account will include:

• The seriousness of the issues raised
• The credibility of the concern
• The likelihood of confirming the allegation from attributable sources

Untrue Allegations

If an individual makes an allegation in good faith, which is not confirmed by subsequent investigation, no action will be taken against that individual. In making a disclosure the individual should exercise due care to ensure the accuracy of the information. If, however, an individual makes a frivolous, malicious or vexatious allegation, and particularly if he or she persists with making them, disciplinary action may be taken against that individual.

How to raise a concern / timescales

Concerns should be reported to the Chief Executive chiefexec@wikimedia.org.uk. If the allegation is about the Chief Executive it should be passed to the Chair of Trustees chair@wikimedia.org.uk.

Concerns may be raised verbally or in writing. Staff who wish to make a written report should mention the following

• the background and history of the concern (giving relevant dates);
• the reason for the concern

Individuals should report the concern at the earliest opportunity so that action can be taken.

Although individuals are not expected to prove beyond doubt the truth of an allegation, they will need to demonstrate to the person contacted that there are reasonable grounds for concern.

The complainant has the right to take their complaint direct to the Chief Executive or Chair of Trustees. The Chair has the right to refer the complaint back to the Chief Executive if they feel that the Chief Executive can more appropriately investigate the complaint without any conflict of interest.

Investigating procedure

The investigating officer (Chief Executive or Chair) should follow these steps:

• Full details and clarifications of the complaint should be obtained.
• In order to protect individuals and those accused of misdeeds or possible malpractice, initial enquiries will be made to decide whether an investigation is appropriate and, if so, what form it should take.
• Within 10 days, acknowledge to the complainant that the complaint has been received; indicate how it is proposed to deal with the matter and inform them whether further investigations will take place and if not, why not.
• Inform the individuals against whom the complaint is made as soon as is practically possible. The individuals will be informed of their right to be accompanied by a trade union or other representative at any future interview or hearing held under the provision of these procedures.
• If there is evidence of criminal activity then the investigating officer should inform the police. Wikimedia UK will ensure that any internal investigation does not hinder a formal police investigation.
• Consider the involvement of the auditors and the Police at this stage and should consult with the Chair of the Board of Trustees
• The allegations should be fully investigated by the investigating officer with the assistance where appropriate, of other individuals / bodies.
• A judgement concerning the complaint and validity of the complaint will be made by the investigating officer. This judgement will be detailed in a written report containing the findings of the investigations and reasons for the judgement. The report will be passed to the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
• The Chief Executive or Chair of the Board of Trustees will decide what action to take. If the complaint is shown to be justified, then they will invoke the disciplinary or other appropriate Wikimedia UK procedures.
• The complainant should be kept informed of the progress of the investigations and, if appropriate, of the final outcome.
• If appropriate, a copy of the outcomes will be passed to the Wikimedia UK auditors to enable a review of the procedures.
• If the complainant is not satisfied that their concern is being properly dealt with by the investigating officer, they have the right to raise it in confidence with the Chief Executive or Chair of the Board of Trustees.
• If the investigation finds the allegations unsubstantiated and all internal procedures have been exhausted, but the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome of the investigation, Wikimedia UK recognises the lawful rights of employees and ex-employees to make disclosures to prescribed persons (such as the Health and Safety Executive, the Charity Commission), or, where justified, elsewhere.

Timescales

Owing to the varied nature of these sorts of complaints, which may involve internal investigators and / or the police, it is not possible to lay down precise timescales for such investigations. The investigating officer should ensure that the investigations are undertaken as quickly as possible without affecting the quality and depth of those investigations.

The investigating officer, should as soon as practically possible, send a written acknowledgement of the concern to the complainant and thereafter report back to them in writing the outcome of the investigation and on the action that is proposed. If the investigation is a prolonged one, the investigating officer should keep the complainant informed, in writing, as to the progress of the investigation and as to when it is likely to be concluded.

All responses to the complainant should be in writing and sent to their home address.

Responsible officer

The Chief Executive has overall responsibility for the maintenance and operation of this policy. He or she will maintain a record of concerns raised and the outcome (but in a form which does not endanger confidentiality) and will report as necessary to the Board of Wikimedia UK.