Data protection notices
We take data protection and confidentiality very seriously and adhere to the current national data protection regulations. Please read this data protection information carefully before submitting a report.
Purpose of the reporting system
The reporting system (BKMS® System) provides a secure and confidential portal for receiving and processing information about certain crimes and violations of the law on white-collar crime (e.g. corruption) and other illegitimate behaviour (e.g. breaches of the Würth Group's Code of Compliance).
Data security
Your reported information and data will be evaluated by Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG, Reinhold-Würth-Straße 12-17, D-74653 Künzelsau and, if necessary, cooperating companies within the meaning of § 15 AktG (collectively referred to as “Würth”). The reporting system is operated by a specialised company, EQS Group GmbH, Bayreuther Str. 35, 10789 Berlin in Germany, on behalf of Adolf Würth GmbH & Co KG (hereafter also referred to as: “company”).
Personal data and information entered into the reporting system are stored in a database operated by EQS Group GmbH in a high-security data centre. Only Würth has access to the data. EQS Group GmbH and other third parties do not have access to the data. This is ensured in the certified procedure through extensive technical and organisational measures.
All data are stored encrypted with multiple levels of password protection so that access is restricted to a very small selection of expressly authorised persons at Würth.
Type of the collected personal data
Use of the reporting system takes place on a voluntary basis. If you submit a report via the reporting system, we collect the following personal data and information:
- your name, if you choose to reveal your identity,
- whether you are employed at Würth, and
- the names of persons and other personal data of persons that you name in your report.
Confidential handling of reports
Incoming reports are received by a small selection of expressly authorised and specially trained employees of Würth and always handled confidentially. The employees of Würth will evaluate the matter and perform any further investigation required by the specific case.
During the processing of a report or the conduction of a special investigation, it may become necessary to forward reports to members of Würth, e.g. employees in the revisions or HR department. To process your report, it may become necessary to forward data to countries outside the European Union or the European Economic Area with different regulations concerning the protection of personal data. We always ensure that the applicable data protection regulations are complied with when sharing reports.All persons who receive access to the data are obligated to maintain confidentiality.
Retention period of personal data
Personal data is retained for as long as necessary to clarify the situation and perform an evaluation. After the report processing is concluded, this data is deleted in accordance with the statutory requirements.
Use of the reporting portal
Communication between your computer and the reporting system takes place over an encrypted connection (SSL). Your IP address will not be stored during your use of the reporting system. In order to maintain the connection between your computer and the BKMS® System, a cookie is stored on your computer that merely contains the session ID (a so-called session cookie). This cookie is only valid until the end of your session and expires when you close your browser.It is possible to set up a postbox within the reporting system that is secured with an individually chosen user name and password. This allows you to send reports to the responsible employee at Würth either by name or in an anonymous, safe way. This system only stores data inside the reporting system, which makes it particularly secure. It is not a form of regular e-mail communication.
Note on sending attachments
When submitting a report or an addition, you can simultaneously send attachments to the responsible Würth employee. If you wish to submit an anonymous report, please take note of the following security advice: Files can contain hidden personal data that could compromise your anonymity. Remove this data before sending. If you are unable to remove this data or are unsure how to do so, copy the text of your attachment into your report text or send the printed document anonymously to the address listed in the footer, citing the reference number received at the end of the reporting process.
Version: February 2017