Approved by Council, 9 December 2009
This Whistleblower Policy of the American Ornithological Society (AOS): (1) encourages officers and volunteers to come forward with credible information on illegal practices or serious violations of adopted policies of the AOS; (2) specifies that the AOS will protect the person from retaliation; and (3) identifies where such information can be reported.
- Encouragement of reporting. The AOS encourages complaints, reports, or inquiries about illegal practices or serious violations of the AOS’s policies, including illegal or improper conduct by the organization itself, by its leadership, or by others on its behalf. Appropriate subjects to raise under this policy would include financial improprieties, accounting or audit matters, ethical violations, or other similar illegal or improper practices or policies. Other subjects on which the AOS has existing complaint mechanisms should be addressed under those mechanisms, unless those channels are themselves implicated in the wrongdoing. This policy is not intended to provide a means of appeal from outcomes in those other mechanisms.
- Protection from retaliation. The AOS prohibits retaliation by or on behalf of the organization
against officers or volunteers for making good faith complaints, reports, or inquiries under this policy or for participating in a review or investigation under this policy. This protection extends to those whose allegations are made in good faith but prove to be mistaken. The AOS reserves the right to discipline persons who make bad faith, knowingly false, or vexatious complaints, reports, or inquiries or who otherwise abuse this policy. - Where to report. Complaints, reports, or inquiries may be made under this policy on a confidential or anonymous basis. They should describe in detail the specific facts demonstrating the bases for the complaints, reports, or inquiries. They should be directed to the AOS’s Executive Director or President; if both of those persons are implicated in the complaint, report, or inquiry, it should be directed to the President-elect. The AOS will conduct a prompt, discreet, and objective review or investigation. Officers or volunteers must recognize that the AOS may be unable to fully evaluate a vague or general complaint, report, or inquiry that is made anonymously.