At GLS, we are committed to doing the right thing and strive to apply the highest standards in every aspect of our operations, ensuring ethical practices and responsible growth on both the local and global level. Transparency, accountability and legal compliance ensure that the trust placed in us is protected and upheld with the utmost integrity.
This page offers insights into our policies and further key documents that reflect our dedication to responsible business practices.
Whistleblower protection
GLS Group has introduced an informant/ombudsman system to enable employees, business partners and third parties to report criminal acts and similar serious offences on a confidential basis.
We at GLS are committed to clear ethical principles
This is a pillar of our success as a business. All GLS staff bears responsibility for GLS living up to its principles; quite often, it is the misconduct of just a few that badly reflects on the reputation of a business as a whole. Hence, it is crucial for GLS to get notified of potential misconduct of its staff, its suppliers or third parties as early as possible so that we can quickly act on it and efficiently remedy the situation.
As GLS B.V. is registered in the Netherlands, the group's whistleblowing procedure is based on Dutch legislation. For more information please refer to the following text.
Effective from February 18 2023, the Law implementing the Whistleblower Directive came into force. This Act obliges GLS to establish an internal reporting channel. Through this internal reporting channel, whistleblowers can inform GLS of potential work-related misconduct. Whistleblowers may use the internal reporting channel to report the following:
- Information on suspected criminal offences;
- Information on suspected administrative offences to the extent that the relevant provisions are aimed at protecting the life, physical integrity or health or rights of employees or the rights of those representing employees (such as members of the works council);
- Information on other violations as defined in the Whistleblowers Protection Act.
Reports which concern the offences detailed above will be treated with the utmost confidentiality to maximize the protection of whistleblowers and those mentioned in the report. In addition, the Act protects whistleblowers against any form of retaliation.
For all other reports, please feel free to also contact the internal reporting channel. Such reports are also treated strictly confidentially.
The internal reporting channel within the meaning of Section 2 of Law implementing the Whistleblower Directive is the compliance department.
Contact the internal reporting channel through one of the following:
1) EQS integrity line
- Website: https://gls.integrityline.com/
2) GLS Canada's compliance officer
- Phone: +1 289 259 3893
- Email: complianceofficer@gls-canada.com
3) Our ombudsperson
Dr. Rainer Buchert, Attorney-at-Law
Kaiserstraße 22
D-60311 Frankfurt am Main
- Phone: +49 69 710 33 330 or +49 61 059 21 355
- Fax: +49 69 710 34 444
- Email: kanzlei@dr-buchert.de
Besides contacting the internal reporting channel, you also have the possibility to contact the relevant authorities directly (external reporting).
The Act allows you to choose whether you would like to contact the internal reporting channel first or whether you prefer to submit your report directly to the relevant external authority. However, we urge you to always contact us first via the internal reporting channel. GLS will investigate your report with the utmost seriousness and will try to remedy the offence. If you are still dissatisfied with the situation following the completion of our internal follow-up measures you may still contact the external authorities.