Ethics

Ethics



Applies to: all NLG team

Ethics

Introduction

The Company conducts its business according to the highest standards of business ethics. Our team members are also expected to conduct themselves with the best interests of the Company in mind.
Listed below are specific policies to which every team members is expected to strictly adhere.

Conflict of Interest

Team members’s personal interests outside working hours are a private matter, however these interests must not conflict with those of the Company.
A team members may not own, operate or otherwise be involved in any business that may compete in any material respect with the business of the Company, except with the written consent of the Company.
Failure to gain written consent is considered misconduct and will be subject to disciplinary action including termination of employment.

Secondary Employment

You may undertake secondary employment, provided it does not unreasonably impact on your work performance with the Company.
Financial Interest In A Competitor or Supplier
No team members may have an undisclosed financial interest, either direct or indirect, in a competitor or with any organisation that does, or is likely to do, any business as a vendor with the Company.
Any interest held by the parents, spouse, child or partner of the employee shall be deemed to be that of the team members unless it is proved that the team members had no knowledge of that interest.
Holding shares in a public company shall not, in itself, be deemed to be a financial interest.
Where there is a financial interest, this must be disclosed to the Company in writing.  Failure to do so is considered serious misconduct and can result in summary dismissal.

Company Ownership

Ownership in a private company that does or may do business with, or is a competitor of, the Company or its affiliates is not permitted.

Soliciting

No team members shall solicit, directly or indirectly, business from any business entity with which the Company does or may do business on behalf of him / herself or a family member.  To do so is considered misconduct and will be subject to disciplinary action including termination of employment.

Personal Gain

The use or diverting of any Company information, product, programme or patent for personal gain or to any person or entity is not permitted.  To do so is considered serious misconduct and can result in summary dismissal.

Illegal Practices

The following illegal practices are considered to be serious misconduct and can result in summary dismissal.
  • Team members are strictly prohibited from possessing firearms, explosives or weapons within the Company’s buildings.
  • Team members are strictly prohibited from removing any Company property or the property of other persons from the premises without proper authorisation.
  • There cannot be any wilful destruction or damage to any property belonging to the Company or to any other employee.
  • Team members  are strictly forbidden to falsify, alter, destroy or remove Company reports or records, or to assist others in doing so.
  • Team members  are strictly forbidden from falsifying records or statements to obtain government benefits or insurance payouts.
  • Team members  shall refrain from publicly criticising the Company, its stores, its services, its personnel or its suppliers, or soliciting other employees to leave the Company.
  • Team members shall not deliberately suppress or distort product knowledge.
  • Team members who are convicted of either serious crimes or crimes involving fraud and dishonesty.


Personal Information

A team member  must not provide incorrect, misleading or false information to the Company on an application for employment, within documents in support of their application, at an interview or at any time during employment.  To do so is deemed to be serious misconduct and can result in summary dismissal.

Confidential Information

A team member may not disclose any confidential information or knowledge acquired during employment with the Company concerning the business affairs, trade secrets, business opportunities, property, customers, clients or staff of the Company.
No such information is to be casually discussed inside the Company nor disclosed to any outside party during employment and after termination. This obligation continues after your employment has ended and any divulging of Company information could result in a claim for damages against you.
To disclose confidential information or knowledge is deemed to be serious misconduct and can result in summary dismissal.

Bias and Discrimination

Team members may not exclude or deny services or benefits to any customer or other company team member on the grounds of sex, marital status, religious belief, ethical belief, colour, race, ethnic or national origins, disability, age, political opinion, employment status, family status and sexual orientation, nor grant any discriminatory consideration or advantage.
Team members shall conduct their professional business in such a way that does not expose the team members or customer to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
Team members may not discriminate unfairly by dispensing special favours or privileges to anyone, or by accepting favours or benefits under any circumstances that might be construed as an influence on the performance of their duties.
Showing bias and/or discrimination is considered misconduct and will be subject to disciplinary action including termination of employment.

Professional Conduct

The Company believes in these long-standing fundamental elements of professional conduct.  We fully expect that all team members will be able to give complete commitment and wholehearted support to these standards.  While this document does contain many specific policies, every possibility and eventuality can never be anticipated.
Each team member’s good judgement, integrity, honesty, candour and good example will always be needed to implement these basic principles.  We also believe that if all team members follow the standards and the spirit set forth, then an appealing work environment will exist throughout the Company and the reputation of each team member and the Company will be enhanced.

Personal Behaviour

All team members are expected to conduct themselves in a socially acceptable manner.  Threats, abuse, threatening/bad language or physical violence to other employees, customers or suppliers will be deemed to be serious misconduct and can result in summary dismissal.  Provocation may not be accepted as an excuse.
Practical joking and skylarking e.g. tomfoolery, horseplay, mischief, a hoax or horseplay, is behaviour that could bring the Company or an team member into disrepute and/or cause harm or embarrassment to someone, and is not permitted.

Failure To Adhere To Ethics

To ensure the well being of all team members, violations of the Company regulations, standards and this statement of ethical conduct will be subject to disciplinary action.  This may include termination of employment, such action to be determined by such considerations as the impact of the offence on the Company, the extent of damage caused and the circumstances of the offence.

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