WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE SUBMITTING A REPORT
What IEEE can review
- Violations of IEEE policies or business operations.
- Misconduct related to IEEE business, operations, activities, or services.
- Actions that materially affect IEEE's interests, reputation, or operations.
* Key considerations *
The alleged conduct must have a clear connection to IEEE policies, operations, or interests.
Mere disagreements or personality conflicts do not constitute reviewable violations.
Evidence of actual policy breach or operational harm is required.
Important Limitations
- IEEE does not provide legal advice.
- IEEE does not re-open closed cases or accept appeals of final decisions.
- IEEE does not process duplicate reports.
- IEEE does not review opinion-based submissions. (Reports must identify specific, actionable violations or issues. The IEEE Reporting Line is not a suggestion box for general feedback or opinions.)
- IEEE does not review potential, hypothetical, or future issues.
- IEEE does not examine matters involving external organizations (including members' employers).
Important requirements
- Reports must be submitted within 5 years of the incident, unless you couldn't reasonably have discovered it earlier.
- Reports must be submitted honestly and in good faith -- false, or retaliatory reports may result in consequences.
- IEEE membership alone does not create jurisdiction for review.
- First-party, verifiable, reports are preferred. Anonymous reports are accepted but may limit investigation capabilities.
- Reports must target individuals, not departments or groups generally
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Reports on the IEEE Reporting Line, must include:
- Named individual(s) as subject(s) of alleged wrongdoing
- Clear, factual account with specific dates, times, and circumstances
- Supporting documentation when available
- Specific IEEE policies, rules, or practices allegedly violated
- Use only this platform for all report-related communications and inquiries. Other IEEE channels will delay review and be redirected here. Persistent contact via other avenues will not be accepted.
Review Process
- IEEE assigns reports to the appropriate Organizational Unit or business unit for review.
- IEEE may decline reports outside its scope or unrelated to IEEE business.
- If your report moves forward, subjects of reports will see the allegations and may respond—this is part of IEEE’s commitment to fairness.
- IEEE may suspend or terminate review of a report if related legal proceedings are initiated.
- Due to confidentiality requirements, IEEE cannot share investigation details, outcomes, participant identities, or rationale for findings with reporters.