Whistle-Blower Definition and Protection

An employee, contractor or volunteer who informs the Secretary or the Chair of the Board about an activity relating to SCORE that the person believes to be fraudulent or dishonest.

SCORE will protect whistle-blowers as defined below.

• SCORE will use its best efforts to protect whistle-blowers against retaliation. Whistle-blowing complaints will be handled with sensitivity, discretion and confidentiality to the extent allowed by the circumstances and the law. Generally, this means that whistle-blower complaints will only be shared with those who have a need to know so that SCORE can conduct an effective investigation, determine what action to take based on the results of any such investigation, and in appropriate cases, with law enforcement personnel. (Should disciplinary or legal action be taken against a person or persons as a result of a whistle-blower complaint, such persons may also have the right to know the identity of the whistle-blower.)

• Employees, contractors and volunteers of SCORE may not retaliate against a whistle-blower for informing management about an activity that the person believes to be fraudulent or dishonest with the intent or effect of adversely affecting the terms or conditions of the whistle-blower’s employment, including but not limited to, threats of physical harm, loss of job, punitive work assignments, or impact on salary or fees. Whistle-blowers who believe that they have been retaliated against may file a written complaint with the Secretary or the Chair of the Board. Any complaint of retaliation will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective measures taken if allegations of retaliation are substantiated. This protection from retaliation is not intended to prohibit supervisors from taking action, including disciplinary action, in the usual scope of their duties and based on valid performance-related factors.

• Whistle-blowers must be cautious to avoid baseless allegations (as described earlier in the definitions section of this policy).