Volkswagen reportedly wants to make it easier for its employees to come forward with information—even if they’re guilty of malfeasance—to help its internal investigation into the emissions-cheating scandal that’s rocked the German automaker.
VW (VLKAY) is expected on Thursday to offer clear instructions on how whistleblowers within the company can come forward, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reports that employees will have until the end of November to receive impunity with regard to self-incriminating evidence.
The automaker launched its internal investigation in September, days after being notified of an Environmental Protection Agency investigation into whether or not it had illegally installed software in its diesel vehicles that falsified emissions tests. To cooperate with regulators, the company has been trying to create a detailed report on how the cheating happened and which employees can be held responsible.
Several VW executives have resigned over the scandal, including CEO Martin Winterkorn, with Porsche chief Matthias Mueller taking the reins at the end of September. Last month, the head of VW’s U.S. operations told Congress that a small faction within the company was responsible for the decision to install the emissions-cheating software, with some reports indicating that a few dozen employees may have been involved.
The Journal notes that VW already has a system in place where employees can provide anonymous information on wrongdoing, but the automaker is looking for further testimony from workers who may have been intricately involved in installing the dubious software in as many as 11 million vehicles over the course of several years.
A Volkswagen representative could not immediately be reached for comment.