Building resilience means more than responding to change. It means creating a culture where people feel safe, supported and confident in raising concerns. We’ve strengthened our whistleblowing framework to ensure that colleagues and third parties have clear, confidential and trusted routes to report serious concerns, thereby helping to protect our people, our business and the communities we serve.
Since the global rollout of Safecall in November 2023, OCS has taken a significant step forward in supporting a culture rooted in openness and trust.
Independent Whistleblowing Channel
“Safecall is an independent, third-party whistleblowing service,” explains Sarah Bond, Senior Legal, Compliance and Governance Manager at OCS.
“It offers colleagues a confidential route to raise serious concerns that they may not feel comfortable reporting directly to their manager, particularly where unethical practices may be involved.”
Safecall is available 24/7 globally via an online portal and local language freephone numbers. As a third-party and independent provider, it ensures that reports are handled impartially and with discretion.
Reports received through Safecall are triaged into one of two routes:
- Group Safecall portal – for serious whistleblowing concerns or HR matters involving senior leadership
- Local HR Safecall portals – for low-level HR issues such as uniform complaints, working hours, or gratuities
“The triage system ensures that serious matters are escalated appropriately and addressed with the right level of oversight.”
A Wider Compliance Framework
Safecall is not a standalone service. It forms part of OCS’s broader compliance programme, which includes our Code of Conduct, Whistleblowing Statement, Anti-bribery procedures, and Anti-fraud Statement.
In addition to Safecall, OCS launched a confidential email address that has been introduced as part of our anti-bribery framework. Like the Group Safecall portal, this route is jointly managed by the Group General Counsel and Sarah, with reports reviewed and escalated for investigation where appropriate.
“We assess each case carefully,” Sarah emphasises.
“Depending on the details, we determine the best route for investigation. It’s about treating every concern with the seriousness it deserves.”
A Speak-Up Culture for Everyone
All whistleblowing routes, including Safecall and the confidential email address, as well as the option to speak directly with a line manager, are available to OCS colleagues, customers, suppliers, and members of the public. As Sarah explains:
“It’s important that everyone knows they can raise a concern whether they work with us, for us or alongside us. And when they do, we want them to feel confident that it will be taken seriously and handled with care. We are committed to ensuring that anyone who raises a concern in good faith is protected and will not suffer any negative consequences as a result.”
Aligning to Our True Values
Safecall and our wider whistleblowing approach support OCS’s True Values, especially Trust and Respect.
“We trust our colleagues to act ethically, and when they see something wrong, we trust them to speak up. And we respect them for doing so. Respect also means acting on those concerns to protect people and uphold the highest standards.”
Building Resilience from the Inside Out
Creating a resilient business starts with empowering people to do the right thing. Safecall and our broader whistleblowing framework help uncover risks early, protect others from harm and reinforce an ethical culture. By making it easy and safe to speak up, OCS is building a stronger and more resilient organisation; one that stands by its values and listens when it matters most.
