1. Policy Statement
Supplies4lyfe is committed to conducting its business with honesty, integrity, and transparency. We encourage all employees, contractors, suppliers, and stakeholders to raise concerns about suspected wrongdoing or misconduct in the workplace without fear of retaliation. This policy outlines how concerns can be raised and how they will be handled.
2. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to:
Encourage a culture of openness and accountability.
Enable individuals to report serious concerns about malpractice, illegal acts, or risks to health and safety.
Provide assurance that concerns will be dealt with seriously and fairly, and that whistleblowers will be protected from victimisation.
3. Scope
This policy applies to:
All current and former employees of Supplies4lyfe
Contractors, consultants, agency workers, interns, and volunteers
Suppliers, partners, and stakeholders
Concerns may relate to acts that:
Are criminal offences
Breach legal obligations
Endanger the health or safety of individuals
Cause damage to the environment
Amount to gross misconduct or malpractice
Involve bribery, fraud, or corruption
Conceal wrongdoing in any of the above categories
4. Legal Framework
This policy aligns with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA). Individuals who make disclosures in good faith and in the public interest are legally protected from dismissal, harassment, or other retaliation.
5. Raising a Concern
If you have a genuine concern about possible wrongdoing, you are encouraged to raise it through one of the following channels:
a. Informal Reporting
Where appropriate, speak to your immediate supervisor or manager.
b. Formal Reporting
If you are not comfortable raising the concern informally or if the matter is serious, report it directly to:
Whistleblowing Officer
Email: whistleblowing@supplies4lyfe.com
Phone: [Insert secure internal number]
Mail: [Insert physical confidential address if applicable]
All disclosures will be treated in the strictest confidence.
6. Investigation Process
The Whistleblowing Officer will acknowledge receipt within 5 working days.
An initial assessment will determine whether a formal investigation is required.
Where necessary, an independent investigator may be appointed.
Investigations will be conducted fairly, promptly, and without bias.
The whistleblower will be informed of the outcome where appropriate and where it does not breach confidentiality.
7. Confidentiality & Anonymity
Whistleblowers may raise concerns anonymously, but doing so may limit our ability to investigate.
All disclosures will be handled confidentially, and the identity of the whistleblower will not be disclosed without consent unless legally required.
8. Protection Against Retaliation
Supplies4lyfe will not tolerate any form of retaliation against whistleblowers. Any employee found victimising or retaliating against a whistleblower may face disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
9. False Allegations
Deliberately false or malicious allegations may result in disciplinary action. However, if a concern is raised in good faith and turns out to be unfounded, the whistleblower will not be penalised.
10. External Reporting
If you are not satisfied with the internal response, or if the concern involves senior management, you may escalate it to an external body such as:
Protect (formerly Public Concern at Work) – www.protect-advice.org.uk
HMRC, HSE, FCA, or other relevant regulators, depending on the issue.
11. Policy Review
This policy is reviewed annually and updated as required to reflect changes in legislation or company operations.
Last Updated: July 2025
Contact: hr@supplies4lyfe.com