Policy

To ensure that the Metropolitan Library System (MLS) is a responsible steward of public funds, the library provides a workplace conducive to open discussions of financial business practices and complies with all applicable laws that protect employees against unlawful discrimination or retaliation as a result of their disclosure or reporting of questionable or illegal acts by MLS or its employees.

Regulations

1. The Finance and Audit Committee of the Metropolitan Library Commission (the Committee) will establish procedures for employees to submit openly, confidentially, or anonymously their concerns about questionable accounting or auditing matters and violations of legal or regulatory requirements.
2. The Committee will receive and respond to any such concerns that are submitted.
3. The Committee may consult with any member of management who is not the subject of the allegation and who may have appropriate expertise to assist the Committee.
4. Neither members of the Committee nor members of MLS management may discharge, demote, suspend, threaten, harass, or in any other manner discriminate, retaliate, or tolerate any discrimination or retaliation by any person or group, directly or indirectly, against any associate of MLS who, in good faith, makes an accounting or legal allegation, reports a retaliatory act, or otherwise assists the Committee, management, or any other person or group (including any governmental, regulatory, or law enforcement body) in investigating a report.
5. The Committee will not disclose the identity of any employee of MLS who makes an accounting or legal allegation or reports a retaliatory act and asks that his or her identity remain confidential, unless such disclosure is required by judicial or other legal processes.
6. The Committee will not make any effort, or tolerate any effort made by any other person or group, to ascertain the identity of any person who makes a report anonymously.
7. If a person makes a report in good faith and if any facts alleged are not confirmed by subsequent investigation, no action will be taken against the reporting person.
8. MLS will treat any act of retaliation or discrimination as a serious violation of MLS policy and such act may result in termination of employment.