"First Home Care prohibits retaliation against any person who makes a good-faith compliance report or participates in an authorized investigation. A report does not need to be substantiated for the reporting person to be protected, provided the report was made in good faith."
Protected Activities
Under this policy, no individual will be penalized for participating in "protected activities." These include, but are not limited to:
- Reporting a suspected violation of the Code of Conduct, company policies, or the law.
- Filing a formal or informal complaint regarding unethical behavior, fraud, or abuse.
- Cooperating with an internal investigation conducted by the Compliance Officer or Management.
- Cooperating with external audits or government agency investigations.
What Constitutes Retaliation?
Retaliation is any adverse action taken against an individual because they engaged in a protected activity. Examples of retaliatory behavior include:
- Termination or suspension of employment
- Unjustified reduction in pay, hours, or benefits
- Demotion or denying a well-deserved promotion
- Unfavorable reassignment of duties or scheduling
- Threats, intimidation, or harassment (verbal, physical, or online)
- Subtle discrimination, ostracization, or creating a hostile work environment
Important Caveat: While good-faith reporting is fully protected, intentional false reporting (maliciously lying to harm someone) or tampering with evidence during an investigation are separate violations of the Code of Conduct and will result in disciplinary action.
Reporting Retaliation
If you believe you are experiencing retaliation for making a compliance report or cooperating in an investigation, you should report it immediately. Acts of retaliation are treated as severe compliance violations.
Report Retaliation