Safely report wrongdoing and reprisal
At TRU, there are two recent additions to the policies that provide support and protection for those who disclose wrongdoing — Whistleblower (BRD 18-0) and Public Interest Disclosure (BRD 29-0). The latter is part of TRU’s commitment to adhering to B.C.’s Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) which applies to all public sector organizations, including post-secondary institutions. The two policies ensure support for all members of the TRU community and allows for streamlined reporting when disclosures take place.
The Public Interest Disclosure Act
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) is B.C legislation aimed at encouraging and facilitating the disclosure of serious or systematic wrongdoing within public sector organizations, including universities. The act, which applies to current and former employees and Board members, also protects individuals by prohibiting workplace reprisals against those who seek advice about wrongdoing, report wrongdoing, or participate in an investigation of wrongdoing.
More information
- Read TRU’s Public Interest Disclosure (BRD 29-0) policy
- Read B.C.’s Public Interest Disclosure Act
- Read about the Public Interest Disclosure Act on the Office of the B.C. Ombudsperson website and take a one-hour Speaking Up Safely course.
Whistleblower
TRU’s Whistleblower policy encourages all members of the university’s community to responsibly report wrongdoing, without fear of retaliation, to one of TRU’s designated officers—the AVP, People and Culture or Director, Internal Audit. The policy provides the procedures for reporting wrongdoing and outlines the actions required of the university in response to a disclosure. In addition, it provides protection for disclosers of wrongdoing by prohibiting retaliation or reprisal against those who have made a disclosure.
More information
- Read TRU’s Whistleblower (BRD 18-0) policy
Wrongdoing
Under both TRU’s Whistleblower and Public Interest Disclosure policies, wrongdoing is defined as:
- a serious act or omission that, if proven, would constitute an offence under an enactment of British Columbia 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 mismanagement, including breaches of the University’s policies and associated regulations; and
- knowingly directing or counselling a person to commit any act or omission described above.
Examples that meet the above definition of wrongdoing
- Taking bribes
- Ignoring workplace violence or threats
- Hiring only friends and family members
- Awarding contracts for personal or political reasons
- A systematic culture of sexism
- Rampant bullying and harassment
- Lack of action on the abuse of vulnerable people
- Repeated or large-scale theft of university property
- Ignoring health and safety breaches
- Organized financial fraud
- Using university funds for personal items, meals and travel
- Excessive spending on meals and travel
- Using university resources for private businesses
- Using a work vehicle for a private business
- Withholding services to coerce others
- Practices that cause harm to animals repeatedly
- Negligence causing major harm
Reporting
All members of the TRU community, including faculty, staff, students, Board members, contractors, volunteers and agents of the university, can make an internal, confidential disclosure to TRU’s designated officers via the internal disclosure form.
Report wrongdoingTRU employees, former employees or Board members can choose to report wrongdoing or reprisal externally to the B.C. Ombudsperson.
Contact and resources
Contact
TRU’s designated officers are:
- Christina (Dina) Duquette, director, Internal Audit
- Shayne Olsen, associate vice-president, People and Culture
To contact a designated officer for guidance or support, please email desigofficers@tru.ca. This email is strictly confidential and only accessible by the designated officers.
Additional resources
- If you are an employee of TRU, you can seek advice from your supervisor or union.
- If you are a student, you can refer to the resources provided through the Student Services or the TRU Students’ Union.
- Additional info about the Public Interest Disclosure Act is available on the Ombudsperson of British Columbia website.
Additional policies at TRU
There are other established TRU policies that provide guidance on the disclosure of various forms of wrongdoing. These policies include:
- Harassment and Discrimination Prevention (BRD 17-0)
- Sexualized Violence (BRD 25-0)
- Fraud Risk Management (BRD 27-0)
- Integrity in Research and Scholarship (ED 15-2)
- Student Academic Integrity (ED 05-0)
If you have questions on any of these policies, please contact the TRU designated officers at desigofficers@tru.ca. Alternatively, the Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Office also provides reporting options and support resources for any TRU community member who has experienced sexualized or gender-based violence, and the Student Affairs Case Managers provide reporting options and support resources for students who have experienced harassment, discrimination, or misconduct from a TRU Community member.
Wrongdoing disclosure form
