Our company considers social responsibility as well as respect and trust in the cooperation of our employees but also in business contacts, e.g. with customers and suppliers, as an essential basis for our success. Our Code of Conduct is therefore intended to help our employees to implement these values in their actions and to incorporate them into our business processes.
We are aware of the fact that laws and regulations must be observed.
We are aware that laws and guidelines can be incomprehensible due to the cooperation with business partners from different countries and that it is therefore sometimes difficult to assess ethically sound and legally compliant actions. Nevertheless, every employee should be guided by the following questions in problematic situations:
- Am I acting in accordance with the laws and policies and principles of our company?
- Are my actions ethically, morally and legally correct in the sense of the company and also for me personally?
The following points are intended to support our employees in making the right behaviour and decisions:
- Compliance with law and order
- Fair competition, corruption
- Avoidance of conflicts of interest
- Money laundering
- Non-discrimination and equal treatment
- Child labour; forced labour
- Freedom of association
- Compensation and working hours
- Occupational health and safety
- Environmental and climate protection
- Donations
- Invitations and gifts
- Public appearances
- Confidential corporate information
- Privacy
- Supplier relationship
On 1: Compliance with laws and regulations is an essential basic principle for us. National law takes precedence over the company's regulations.
On 2: Corruption, bribes and cartel violations are rejected as a matter of principle. We expect absolute integrity from all employees. Coordination and exchanges with competitors on prices, margins, discounts and sales as well as other sensitive market information are prohibited.
All employees are expected to act with absolute integrity.
On 3: Business decisions are made objectively and in the best interest of the company. Conflicts of interest with private or other economic interests or other activities - including those of relatives or otherwise related persons or organisations - should be avoided from the outset.
On 4: Business decisions shall be made objectively and in the best interests of the company.
On 4: We observe the legal obligations to prevent money laundering. Every employee shall report unusual financial transactions that could give rise to suspicion of money laundering.
All employees shall report any unusual financial transactions that could give rise to suspicion of money laundering.
On 5: We pursue equal opportunities, equal treatment and mutual respect among our employees. All employees are treated equally regardless of gender, age, skin colour, culture, ethical origin, sexual identity, disability, religious affiliation or world view.
All employees are treated equally regardless of gender, age, skin colour, culture, ethical origin, sexual identity, disability, religious affiliation or world view.
On 6: We do not tolerate any unlawful form of child or forced labour in our company and subsidiaries.
On 7: We respect the rights of our employees with regard to freedom of association and freedom of assembly in accordance with national legislation.
On 8: We comply with national legislation regarding adequate remuneration in compliance with the laws regulating a general minimum wage and regarding working hours.
On 9: Occupational health and safety is a key corporate objective, along with the quality of our products, and is incorporated into all operational processes. Therefore, national legislation regarding health protection and occupational safety is complied with and thus possible occupational diseases are prevented in the best possible way.
Occupational safety and health protection are an essential corporate objective in addition to the quality of our products.
On 10: Sustainable environmental and climate protection are important corporate goals for us. We therefore comply with the applicable national environmental laws and every employee should strive to avoid environmental pollution as far as possible and also to contribute to environmental and climate protection through his or her personal behaviour and to use the resources energy, water and raw materials efficiently and sparingly.
On 11: Sustainable environmental and climate protection are important corporate goals for us.
On 11: Social commitment and donations may be made on a voluntary basis and without consideration. Such engagement must not be done in order to make decisions in the interest of the company. No financial contributions shall be made to political parties or similar institutions, or to individuals.
On 12: The granting of high-value gifts or financial benefits to representatives of other companies is prohibited. Similarly, our employees are prohibited from accepting gifts and inappropriate invitations. Gifts and invitations addressed to private individuals may also neither be given nor accepted. Exceptions are low-value gifts/promotional items from contractual partners, e.g. at the end of the year, which are included in a raffle for all employees. Reasonable invitations, e.g. to business dinners or events that are in accordance with accepted business practices, may be given or accepted, unless they serve an impermissible preferential purpose.
On 13: Our employees are representatives of our company and thus contribute to the positive perception of the company. Employees and especially managers must be aware of their responsibilities and behave ethically at all times.
On 14: Confidential information and documents about the company shall be appropriately protected from access by unauthorised persons. Employees who possess information about contractors and customers that is not in the public domain must not disclose it under any circumstances, including to family and friends.
On 15: Data protection regulations are complied with. Personal data of employees, customers or suppliers are treated confidentially and secured against unauthorised access. This data is only collected if it is necessary for the business process and permitted within the framework of the relevant laws. This data may not be collected or processed without the consent of the person concerned.
On 16: We expect our suppliers to behave in an equally responsible manner.
Compliance with the Code of Conduct generally results directly from existing laws, company regulations, corporate guidelines and ancillary obligations under employment contracts. Deliberate violations of these guidelines may result in consequences under the applicable regulations.
As of September 2016