Standards for our corporate conduct
At Sanders-Kauffmann, we are committed to integrity, respect and reliability both within the company and in our dealings with our customers, suppliers and other business partners. This Code of Conduct serves as a guide for our day-to-day actions in accordance with our company values. These values are, above all, personal responsibility, openness and transparency, as well as acting in a lawful and ethical manner.
As a company, we hope that through communication and adherence to our corporate values, we can make a positive contribution to society and the environment, as well as to the working environment of our staff.
Acting in the company’s best interests on a daily basis is of the utmost importance for the company’s success and reputation. These days, customers look beyond the price tag and tend to favour companies they can trust. Ethical and sustainable thinking is becoming increasingly important. Together, we share responsibility for our company’s reputation.
Above all, we aim to be a model business where our employees enjoy working and of which they can be proud. As a company, we want to continue to grow – our profits should be channelled into the development and modernisation of our operations. We want to increase the value we deliver to our customers and exceed the promises we have made to them; and, last but not least, we also want to satisfy our shareholders and ensure that their investment in Sanders-Kauffmann remains profitable for them. We aim to achieve this by operating in a balanced and sustainable manner and aligning our processes accordingly.
Our corporate values are also aligned with this ambition; they are built upon the four pillars of innovation, commitment, global outlook and social responsibility.
We continue to view innovation as an essential factor in consistently expanding our market leadership. Innovation here refers not only to the further development of our products to meet market expectations, but also to the development of our structures and organisation to ensure a ‘best fit’. We want to set trends. We aim to promote innovation by:
- Creating a climate that fosters creativity and ideas: the working environment should offer everyone the opportunity to contribute creatively and communicate their ideas openly.
- Enabling change: only if we are prepared to face and implement change can we drive innovation efficiently and continue to develop.
- Seizing opportunities responsibly: we want to seize the opportunities that present themselves to us, provided they serve our corporate objectives.
We regard a commitment to excellence as the foundation of our company’s success.
- We set ourselves goals that we aim to achieve; we can only do this through consistent hard work.
- Well-trained and motivated staff are our company’s most valuable asset; they make a significant contribution to our success. We aim to support our staff in order to provide them with the best possible conditions for acting responsibly and independently.
- As managers, we aim to lead by example in terms of motivation and enthusiasm.
The global interconnectedness of the business world offers us enormous opportunities, which we aim to utilise to our advantage as effectively as possible. Given the diversity that globalisation brings – whether through different cultures, business practices or similar factors – responsible conduct and communication are essential. This means communicating and acting responsibly, adhering to laws and regulations (compliance), and ensuring the careful and sustainable use of our resources.
Above all else, our social responsibility towards the state, society and the people in our company takes precedence. We nurture talent within our company and aim to offer career opportunities.
We, the management, hereby undertake to comply with and implement the rules of conduct described here. All our employees are familiar with this Code of Conduct and use it as a guideline for their daily behaviour and actions.
A deliberate breach of our code of conduct or other internal guidelines can have serious consequences for the company and for individuals. Deliberate misconduct will therefore not be tolerated and will be dealt with accordingly. All employees are therefore also urged to report any obvious misconduct.
Management of Sanders-Kauffmann
Beate Knell, CEO
Markus Winkelmann, CFO
Behaviour in a business context
Compliance with laws and regulations
Sanders-Kauffmann always complies with the applicable legal and regulatory requirements. This also applies to situations in which Sanders-Kauffmann would suffer an economic disadvantage. We regard compliance with the law as a fundamental prerequisite for economically responsible conduct, and we expect the same from our employees.
Conflicts of Interest
Personal interests must not take precedence over the interests of the company. Conflicts of interest should be avoided from the outset. Should they nevertheless arise, transparent disclosure of the situation is absolutely essential. Conflicts of interest may arise, for example, in business dealings with friends or acquaintances, or in private business relationships with companies that already work with Sanders-Kauffmann.
Fair Competition/Corruption/Bribery
Gifts and invitations are, in principle, permitted provided they are in line with business practice and ethically sound. No employee may actively solicit gifts or other personal benefits from customers, suppliers or other business partners. Furthermore, compliance with the relevant legal requirements is also mandatory in this regard. We expect employees who are themselves induced by business partners to engage in unfair practices, accept gifts or similar, or who become aware of such practices, to refuse them and report such incidents. Employees who fail to comply with this due to their position or role within the company must expect disciplinary action.
General Principles of Conduct
At Sanders-Kauffmann, we are committed to integrity, respect and reliability both within the company and towards our customers, suppliers and other business partners. We always act in the best interests of the company and treat our business partners and colleagues with mutual respect, honesty and transparency.
In all our actions, we are committed to the principles of fair business practice and compliance with international and national laws and standards relating to equal treatment, human rights, supply chains and anti-corruption (UN Global Compact, OECD Guidelines, etc.).
Behaviour towards colleagues and staff
Equal treatment and non-discrimination
Equal opportunities are promoted and discrimination must be prevented. This applies to decisions regarding the recruitment of employees, promotions or, for example, further training programmes. The following factors must not be used as a basis for decision-making: gender, age, skin colour, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religious affiliation, political views or disability. We strive to create a working environment characterised by trust, transparency and open, honest communication.
Human and Labour Rights
We recognise universally applicable international human and labour rights (ILO, OECD and the UN Global Compact Initiative). We respect our employees’ right to freedom of expression. Forced or child labour will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Remuneration within our company meets, as a minimum, the rates customary for the respective country, sector and location.
Health and Safety
Well-being and safety are top priorities for Sanders-Kauffmann, alongside business success. Objectives and planning are geared towards this and form a fundamental part of our operational processes. Every employee is expected to play their part in health and safety by complying with internal regulations.
Behaviour within society
Public Conduct and Communication
Every employee is aware that they may be perceived as a representative of the company both during and outside working hours. Accordingly, care must be taken to uphold the company’s reputation in all communications. At the same time, we respect the right to freedom of expression.
Handling information
Reporting
Accurate reporting to customers, suppliers, regulatory authorities and other relevant parties is essential to our core values, such as transparency and honesty.
Confidential business information
Confidential information relating to the company, our business partners or our customers must be handled with due care. It is strictly forbidden to disclose such information to unauthorised parties without further consent.
Company-owned property/Third-party property
Both Sanders-Kauffmann’s own property and that of third parties are handled with the utmost care and protected against misuse, loss or theft. Intellectual property, trade marks and patents represent a competitive advantage and are protected accordingly.
Reporting of misconduct
No employee should suffer any disadvantage as a result of compliance with the guideline. Nevertheless, obvious violations should be reported. Violations and offences must be reported to the Compliance Officer. The report can be made in any form, verbally or in writing, and each report will be treated confidentially. No one should suffer any disadvantage as a result of the report. Deliberate false accusations are prohibited and will be penalised accordingly.