Each of us is responsible for bringing to the attention of the Company any circumstances that we believe may constitute a violation of this Business Code. The failure to discharge this responsibility may be as serious as the violation itself and may result in corrective or disciplinary actions. If you are unsure of what to do in any situation, seek guidance before you act. Information regarding violations must be given to your immediate supervisor, the Company’s Compliance Officer or Vice President of Human Resources, or you may report such information using the procedures set forth in the Company’s Whistleblower Policy. We especially encourage you to use the procedures set forth in the Whistleblower Policy if you have a concern about the Company’s accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing, financial reporting or legal compliance matters. You may elect to report suspected violations on an anonymous basis as set forth in the Whistleblower Policy. All directors, officers and employees are expected to cooperate in internal investigations of possible violations.
The Company has contracted an independent group to create an Ethics and Compliance Hotline to encourage disclosure and help detect and prevent corporate financial improprieties, violation of policy, fraud, discrimination or other compliance or ethical issues at the Company. Employees can report (and choose to remain anonymous) by simply calling the toll-free line at 1-844-996-0271 and working with a trained professional who will guide them through the process. The Ethics and Compliance Hotline is available 7-days a week and 24-hours a day. In addition, employees may make an online report (which can also be made anonymously) at our third party hosted ethics website: http://omegahealthcare.ethicspoint.com/.
There will be no punishment or retaliation of any kind for making such a communication relating to the conduct of others. Retaliation in any form against a person who reports a violation of this Business Code (even if the report is mistaken but was submitted in the good faith belief it was correct) or against a person who assists in the investigation, is a violation of this Business Code and should be reported immediately.