About the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline and the NAVEX System
What is the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline?
The Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline is one of many channels for employees to speak up. Depending on the country where you are based, you can ask questions, seek help, and/or report potential violations of laws, regulations, our Code of Conduct, or company policies.
What is the NAVEX System?
Panasonic has partnered with NAVEX to provide the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline. The NAVEX System is a comprehensive reporting tool that provides you with a way to report by either phone or internet.
Why do we have the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline?
We cannot improve or correct problems, if we don't know they exist. When you first notice that something looks wrong, feels wrong, or sounds wrong, you must apply our Company's core values and quickly report it. The Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline is one of many channels that employees can use to make a report.
Reporting — General
May I report using either the Internet or the phone?
Yes, the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline uses the NAVEX system to provide you with a way to file a report either by phone or on the Internet.
What type of situations should I report?
You should report any potential violation of law, regulations, our Code of Conduct, or company policy – thought this may depend on the country where you are based.
Once you have chosen your region and country, you will be given a list of matters that can be reported.
If your concern pertains to a matter that under local law, may not be accepted by Panasonic through the Hotline, you will need to use any of the other reporting channels made available to you, such as your supervisor or local management or a representative of the Human Resources, Legal or Corporate Compliance Departments or to the Compliance team in Panasonic’s Headquarter in your region.
If I see a violation, shouldn't I just report it to my manager or human resources and let them deal with it?
When you first notice that something looks wrong, feels wrong, or sounds wrong, you must apply our Company's core values and quickly report it. You have many official channels for speaking up. You can go to our manager; the next higher manager; the HR Department; the Legal or Compliance Department. When you are not comfortable reporting an issue through these other channels, you also have the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline.
Does management really want me to report?
We cannot improve or correct problems, if we don't know they exist. We need you to report. You know what is going on in our company - both good and bad. You may have initial knowledge of an activity that may be cause for concern. Your reporting can minimize the potential negative impact on Panasonic and our people.
Where do these reports go? Who can access them?
Reports on the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline are entered directly to a NAVEX secure server to prevent any possible breach in security. NAVEX makes these reports available only to specific individuals within Panasonic who are charged with evaluating the report, based on the type of violation and location of the incident. Each of these report recipients has had training in keeping these reports in the utmost confidence.
Reporting Security & Confidentiality
It is my understanding that any report I send from a company computer generates a server log that shows every website my PC connects with; won't this log identify me as a report originator?
The Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline uses the NAVEX system. The NAVEX system does not generate or maintain any internal connection logs with IP addresses; no information linking your PC to the NAVEX system is available. In fact, NAVEX is contractually committed not to pursue a reporter's identity.
If you feel uncomfortable making a report on your work PC, you have the option of using a PC outside our work environment (such as one located at an Internet café, the library, at a friend's house, etc.) through the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline NAVEX secure website. Many people choose this option, as NAVEX's data shows that fewer than 12% of reports generated during business hours.
Can I file a report from home and remain anonymous?
A report from home, a neighbor's computer, or any Internet portal will remain secure and anonymous, where permitted by local laws. An Internet portal never identifies a visitor by screen name and the NAVEX system strips away identifying information, such as an IP address, so that anonymity is maintained. Plus, NAVEX is contractually committed not to pursue a reporter's identity.
What if I am concerned that the information I provide to the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline will ultimately reveal my identity.
Every reasonable precaution, consistent with the needs of conducting a thorough and fair investigation, is taken to keep your identity confidential.
In addition, it is possible to report anonymously through the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline except where legally restricted from doing so. The Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline uses the NAVEX system which is designed to protect you. In fact, NAVEX is contractually committed not to pursue a reporter's identity. To further ensure your anonymity, you—as a reporting party—need to be careful not reveal any identifying details as part of your report. For example, "from my cube next to Jan Smith…" or "in my 33 years…"
Finally, Panasonic supports all employees in raising issues or concerns in good faith and is committed to maintaining a retaliation-free workplace. Anyone who violates that trust and retaliates will face disciplinary action.
What if I want to be identified with my report?
There is a section in the report where you may identify yourself, if you wish. Providing this information may help us thoroughly investigate the report.
Tips & Best Practices
I am aware of some individuals involved with unethical conduct, but it doesn't affect me. Why should I bother reporting it?
When you first notice that something looks wrong, feels wrong, or sounds wrong, you must apply our Company's core values and quickly report it. One only has to consider what happened in recent corporate scandals to see the disastrous effects a seemingly harmless lapse in ethics can have on an otherwise healthy company. If you know of any incidents of misconduct or ethical violations, quickly report it.
I am not sure if what I have observed or heard is a violation of company policy or involves unethical conduct, but it just does not look right to me. What should I do?
You should report this in good faith through one of the channels available to you. We would rather you report a situation that turns out to be harmless than let possibly unethical behavior go uninvestigated.
What if my boss or other managers are involved in a violation? Won't they get the report and start a cover-up?
The Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline uses the NAVEX system. This system and report distribution protocols are designed so that the implicated parties are not notified about or granted access to reports in which they have been named.
The implicated parties will however promptly be notified by Panasonic that there is a report against him/her (unless necessary to delay for the purpose of the investigation).
What if I remember something important about the incident after I file the report?
When you file a report with the Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline, either using the NAVEX System's Internet or phone system, you are given a unique report key and are asked to select a password. With this report key and password, you can return to the Hotline again, either by Internet or phone, and access the original report. At that point, you can add more details.
What if you have questions for me concerning my report?
The Panasonic Global Compliance Hotline uses the NAVEX system which provides functionality to enable Panasonic representatives to post questions to you, even if you report anonymously. When you receive your report key, you will be provided with the amount of time we expect for the report to be processed. When that time has passed, we strongly suggest you use the report key and password to return to the Hotline either by internet or phone to see if any questions have been posted.
What should I do if the telephone number is not working?
If the telephone number listed above is not functioning, please make your report online through this web site. Please indicate in the report that the telephone number did not work.
What should I do if the country I am in is not listed above?
If there is no service for your location, please make your report online through this web site. Please indicate in the report that dialing instructions were not available for the country you are located in.
