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Whistleblower system

Reporting misconduct in accordance with the Whistleblower Protection Act

The aim of our whistleblowing channel is to implement the directive on the protection of persons who report violations of the law. You can use our internal reporting channel to report suspected misconduct or wrongdoing - anonymously and confidentially - in our organization.

As a public research institute, we are clearly committed to acting in accordance with the law, as this is the only way to ensure sustainable success for all of us. The topic of legal conformity and compliance is of particular concern to us. We provide the opportunity to report violations as quickly, easily and, above all, securely and anonymously as possible via an anonymous whistleblower solution from the law firm FPS Law. 

Irrespective of this, we would like to reiterate that it is always important to us to create a trusting environment in which things can be discussed openly. 

We would also like to point out that the whistleblower system is not intended to replace the existing communication channels within the Max Delbrück Center, but rather to provide an additional opportunity to submit information. 

In addition to this internal reporting option via FPS-Law, you also have the option of using external reporting procedures, although you should give preference to our internal reporting option if effective action can be taken internally against the suspected infringement. Information on the external reporting procedures can be found on the homepage of the Federal Office of Justice (BfJ).

In order to uncover misconduct as quickly as possible and to be able to remedy a violation immediately, we therefore ask you to use our internal reporting office as a matter of priority. This will help your colleagues and the Research Center.

Note on deliberately false accusations

Conversely, if the Max Delbrück Center discovers that whistleblowers have deliberately made false accusations, the whistleblowers must expect measures under employment law. Whistleblowers who knowingly provide false or misleading information are therefore not protected. This may lead to the disclosure of the whistleblower's identity (if the whistleblower has disclosed their identity when making the report) as well as disciplinary action or even civil or criminal liability.

For which reports can I use the whistleblower system?

You must have obtained the information about the violation to be reported in connection with your professional activity or prior to a professional activity. It must also be a violation at the employer where you are or were employed or at another body with which you are or were in contact due to your professional activity. Information about private misconduct is not covered by the Whistleblower Protection Act.

Which violations are covered by the Whistleblower Protection Act?

You can report information about criminal offenses or violations subject to fines which 

  • the protection of life, limb or health or 
  • serve to protect the rights of employees or their representative bodies

In addition, the Whistleblower Protection Act contains a catalog of other violations that fall under the protection of the law and for which whistleblowers are prosecuted. These can be viewed here.

The whistleblower system, on the other hand, is not a general complaints office for problems of all kinds. 

Further contact points at the Max Delbrück Center can be found here:

Who can provide information?

Information can be submitted by employees of the Max Delbrück Center as well as by other persons associated with the Max Delbrück Center (external parties).

How am I protected as a whistleblower?

Whistleblowers make an important contribution to uncovering and punishing wrongdoing. Nevertheless, there have been cases in the past in which whistleblowers have been professionally disadvantaged or subjected to reprisals as a result of reporting wrongdoing. The aim of the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) is to protect whistleblowers from discrimination and to provide them with legal certainty. Another core element of the HinSchG is the best possible protection of their identity.

Where can I report a violation?

Reporting office of the Max Delbrück Center

Law firm FPS Fritz Wicke Seelig PGmbH 
Kurfürstendamm 220 
10719 Berlin
berlin@fps-law.de

You can report a violation here: Reporting channel of the Max Delbrück Center

How can I submit a report?

You can send the information directly to our external service provider.

To do this, you can report via a whistleblower portal. Reports can also be made anonymously here. 

Please note that the Reporting Office of the Max Delbrück Center currently has no possibility to provide you with information relevant to the proceedings if you decide to report anonymously and do not open up the possibility of contacting you if necessary. This applies in particular to confirmations of receipt, queries and decisions concluding the procedure. 

We would therefore ask you to keep in touch with us.

External reporting offices

In addition, reports can also be submitted to the external reporting offices of the federal government. However, we would like to point out that due to the more effective options for processing the report, the reporting channel at the Max Delbrück Center should be used first.

What are the next steps?

The receipt of your report will be confirmed by the respective reporting office after 7 days at the latest. 

In order to clarify the report quickly and effectively, please provide as complete and detailed an account of the incident as possible.

The internal reporting office will provide feedback within 3 months. 
 

What should I bear in mind?

Your tip can help to correct things that are going wrong. It may have consequences for third parties, but also for yourself.

Before you make a report, please check the following questions again: 

Information for whistleblowers from Transparency International Deutschland e.V.

 

Data protection information

In the course of reporting, your personal data will be processed unless you use the anonymous reporting channel via our internal reporting system. The Max Delbrück Center strictly adheres to the statutory confidentiality regulations in this regard. Please note the general data protection information on the Max Delbrück Center's whistleblower system. 

 

About the image in the header of this page

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis, destroys billions of cells in the human body every day. But without it, life would not be possible. 

And just as the immune system contains and then eliminates these bodies, the whistleblower system ensures that reported problems are contained, addressed and resolved to protect the organization from potential harm.

A study by an MDC research group helps to better understand cellular survival strategies.

Article: A life-or-death decision