2020 Archdiocese of Atlanta Employee Policy Manual/September 2020 - Manual / Resource - Page 55
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should direct all inquiries from the media to the Chief Operating Officer for possible
referral to legal counsel
Whistleblower Protection
The Fraud Policy is intended to encourage and enable employees and others to raise serious
concerns within the Chancery Offices of the Archdiocese. To that end, the Archdiocese will use its
best efforts to protect whistleblowers against retaliation as described below.
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Whistleblowing complaints will be handled with sensitivity, discretion and confidentiality
to the extent allowed by the circumstances and the law. Generally this means that
whistleblower complaints will only be shared with those who have a need to know so that
the Archdiocese 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 whistleblower complaint, such persons may also have right to know the identity
of the whistleblower.)
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The Archdiocese and/or it employees may not retaliate against a whistleblower for
informing management about an activity which that person believes to be fraudulent or
dishonest with the intent or effect of adversely affecting the terms or conditions of the
whistleblower’s employment, including but not limited to, harassment, threats of physical
harm, loss of job, punitive work assignments, or impact on salary or wages. Whistleblowers
who believe that they have been retaliated against may file a written complaint with the
Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer or the Director of Human Resources.
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 managers or supervisors from taking action,
including disciplinary action, in the usual scope of their duties and based on valid
performance-related factors.
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Whistleblowers must be cautious to avoid baseless allegations (as described earlier in the
definitions section of this policy).
Contacts
Questions related to the interpretation of this policy should be directed to the Chief Finance
Officer, Chief Operating Officer or the Director of Human Resources.
4.10 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
This policy was developed to enable employees, clergy and religious belonging to or serving in the
Archdiocese of Atlanta, its schools, parishes, missions and its agencies to understand clearly what
conduct is expected of them with regard to real or perceived conflicts of interest.
(1) Each employee, clergy, and religious of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, its schools parishes,
missions and its agencies shall recognize that he or she is in a position of trust and is expected
