Complaints and Appeals Procedure

  1. Introduction
    HARD sc Publishing Company is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. We recognize that authors, reviewers, and readers may occasionally wish to raise concerns or complaints regarding the editorial process or published content. This procedure outlines how such complaints are handled in a fair, confidential, and timely manner.
  2. Scope of Complaints
    We consider complaints related to, but not limited to:
    • Editorial decisions (including rejection or requests for revision)
    • Peer review process (quality, timeliness, or conduct of reviewers)
    • Allegations of research or publication misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate submission)
    • Conflicts of interest
    • Delays in manuscript handling or communication issues
    • Ethical concerns related to published articles
    • Authorship disputes
  3. Submission of Complaints
    Complaints should be submitted in writing and include sufficient detail to allow proper investigation.
    Please send complaints to:

    Editorial Office
    Polish Journal of Environmental Studies (PJOES)
    Polish Journal of Environmental Studies: Politics, Economy and Industry (PJOESPEAI)
    Email: office@pjoes.com

    The complaint should include:
    • Manuscript ID (if applicable)
    • Title of the manuscript or article
    • Detailed description of the concern
    • Supporting documentation (if available)
  4. Handling of Complaints
    All complaints are handled according to the following principles:
    • Confidentiality: All information is treated as confidential.
    • Impartiality: Complaints are assessed objectively and fairly.
    • Transparency: Clear communication is maintained throughout the process.
    The procedure includes:
    1. Acknowledgement of receipt of the complaint.
    2. Initial assessment by the Editorial Office.
    3. Investigation, which may involve the Editor-in-Chief, editorial board members, and, if necessary, external experts.
    4. Decision and response communicated to the complainant.
  5. Appeals
    Authors may appeal editorial decisions if they believe that:
    • The decision was based on a misunderstanding of the manuscript, or
    • There were procedural or reviewer-related issues that affected fairness.
    Appeals must:
    • Be submitted in writing
    • Provide a clear justification
    • Address reviewer and editorial comments in detail
    The Editor-in-Chief will review the appeal, and, where appropriate, may seek additional independent expert opinions. Decisions on appeals are final.
  6. Ethical Standards and Guidelines
    Our journals follow internationally recognized standards, including:
    • COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines
    • Best practices in scholarly publishing
    • Principles of research integrity and transparency
    Where applicable, COPE procedures are followed in handling complex ethical cases.
  7. Timeframe
    We aim to:
    • Acknowledge complaints within 5 working days
    • Provide an initial response within 2–4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the case
    More complex cases may require additional time; in such instances, the complainant will be informed.
  8. Contact
    For all complaints and appeals, please contact:
    Editorial Office
    Polish Journal of Environmental Studies (PJOES)
    Polish Journal of Environmental Studies: Politics, Economy and Industry (PJOESPEAI)
    Email: office@pjoes.com