Safe Disclosure of Misconduct, Wrongdoing or Reprisal
If you have witnessed or experienced misconduct, wrongdoing and/or reprisal, support is available.
Overview
SFU has two policies to support members of the university community who wish to disclose wrongdoing. GP41 - Safe Disclosure of Wrongdoing ("Whistleblower") Policy has been in place since January 2014, and with the introduction of the new B.C. Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA), will work with SFU's new Public Interest Disclosure Act policy to provide additional rights and supports for those who wish to disclose their concerns about wrongdoing at SFU. Having two policies allows for more streamlined reporting to the provincial government for disclosures that take place under PIDA.
What is the Public Interest Disclosure Act?
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) is British Columbia's whistleblower protection legislation for current and former employees and Board members of B.C. public sector organizations, including universities. PIDA provides mechanisms for investigating allegations of wrongdoing, as defined by PIDA, and where wrongdoing is found, the means to address it. PIDA also provides protection for public sector employees who speak up about serious or systemic wrongdoing within their organization by prohibiting reprisal against those who seek advice about wrongdoing, report wrongdoing, or participate in an investigation of wrongdoing.
- Read about the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
- Get answers to frequently asked questions about how this legislation applies at SFU by reading the PIDA FAQs.
- Enhance your understanding of PIDA by taking a one-hour Speaking Up Safely course offered by the Office of the B.C. Ombudsperson.
What is the Safe Disclosure of Wrongdoing ("Whistleblower") Policy?
GP41 allows Members of the University Community, Agents and Contractors to report wrongdoing to SFU’s Director of Internal Audit using the reporting form below. It provides mechanisms for investigating allegations of wrongdoing and where wrongdoing is found, the means to address it. GP41 also provides protection for disclosers of wrongdoing by prohibiting reprisal against those who seek advice about wrongdoing, report wrongdoing, or participate in an investigation of wrongdoing.
WHAT CONSTITUTES WRONGDOING?
Wrongdoing under GP41
Wrongdoing under GP41 is defined specifically to mean improper, dishonest, unethical, irregular or unlawful activities.
Examples
- Misappropriation or misuse of university property, assets, resources, or funds
- Irregularities related to contracts or expense claims
- Nepotism
- Destruction of property
- Environmental or health and safety violations
- Mistakes with paystubs
- Errors in submitting travel expenses
- Expensing costly dinners or alcohol outside of travel and expense policy
- Fraud, theft, embezzlement
- Providing false or misleading information in an application or otherwise, for the university to rely upon in decisions relating to hiring, provision of awards, and the like
- Deliberate non-compliance with Statutory Obligations
- Obstructing a person’s right to make a report of Wrongdoing under this policy
- Reprisals for reporting Wrongdoing under this policy
Wrongdoing under PIDA
Wrongdoing under PIDA is defined as:
- A serious act or omission that, if proven, would constitute an offence under the laws of B.C. or Canada;
- An act or omission that creates a substantial and specific danger to the life, health or safety of persons, or to the environment, other than a danger that is inherent in the performance of an employee's duties or functions;
- A serious misuse of public funds or public assets;
- Gross or systemic mismangement, or;
- Knowingly directing/counseling a person to commit the wrongdoing described above.
Examples
- Taking bribes from someone
- Unresolved workplace violence or threats of violence
- Hiring only family members
- An ongoing culture of sexism
- Widespread bullying and harassment
- Ongoing inaction regarding the abuse of vulnerable people
- Recurring theft or sizable theft of university assets or property
- Practices allowing ongoing health and safety violations
- Organized fraud conducted by one or more people (financial or other)
- Awarding contracts for political or personal gain
- Using university funds for personal vacations over a sustained period of time
- Using university resources for personal businesses over a sustained period of time
- Culture of overpsending on corporate meals and travel
- Negligence causing serious harm
- Practices that lead to ongoing harm to animals
- Significant destruction of university property
- Use of a work vehicle to operate a private business
- Withholding permits, services or payments as a coercive act
SFU employees, former employees or Board members also have the option of reporting wrongdoing or reprisal externally to the B.C. Ombudsperson.
WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR GUIDANCE OR SUPPORT?
- If you need guidance or support related to the Public Interest Disclosure Act, please contact iapida@sfu.ca.
- If you need guidance or support related to GP41 - Safe Disclosure of Wrongdoing ("Whistleblower"), please contact the iagp41@sfu.ca.
- If you aren't sure, you can contact the Director of Internal Audit to arrange a confidential discussion at alison_blair@sfu.ca.
MORE RESOURCES
- If you are an employee of the university, you can seek advice from your supervisor or union.
- If you are a student, the SFU Ombudsperson is here to support you.
- Additional information about the Public Interest Disclosure Act can be found on the Ombudsperson of British Columbia website.