Code of Ethics

The Code of Ethics provides the foundation for Hansel’s practices and policies. The Code of Ethics has been approved by Hansel’s Board of Directors, and its implementation is the responsibility of the Managing Director, who also monitors that the code is followed. This is done through the company’s management system. The Code of Ethics applies to all employees. It will be explained to new employees as part of their induction. Ethics is also discussed in relation to each employees’ job description.

It is the managers’ and supervisors’ responsibility to ensure that

• everyone is treated equally and that work duties have been divided equally
• the work community is productive and efficient
• there is no discrimination, bullying or any other inappropriate behaviour in the work community
• occupational health and safety is taken seriously
• any problems are dealt with.

It is the employees’ responsibility to ensure that

• work duties are taken care of without delay and appropriately
• the work community’s work instructions are followed
• no conflicts of interest regarding work duties arise. Any conflicts of interest must be reported to supervisors without delay
• the work community’s rules are respected and everyone treats others with respect

Rules about cooperation with stakeholders:

1. Any training or social or cultural events or similar events organised by stakeholders may only be participated in by written permission from the employee’s supervisor. However, those working with customers as part of their work do not need their supervisor’s permission to take part in training organised by customers. When asking for permission, employees must specify whether the time is to be included under working hours. Any travel and accommodation expenses are always paid by Hansel.
2. Events organised by the same supplier or other stakeholder will not be participated in on a regular basis.
3. If personal gifts are offered, only regular business gifts or those in the same price range can be accepted. Any type of corruption or bribery is strictly prohibited.
4. During a tendering process, events organised by the companies participating in the tendering are generally not attended, invitations to such events are not accepted, and only Christmas greetings are accepted as gifts.
5. Hansel has an event and gift list in which employees must enter details of events attended and gifts received when worth 15 euros or more. Such entries must be made as soon as permission for participation has been received or the gift has been received.
6. Our employees cannot use any information received in the course of their duties for the purpose of personal gain, nor can they give such information to a third party. We protect our suppliers’ and customers’ business secrets.

Disqualification provisions and breaches:

The disqualification provisions specified in the Administrative Procedure Act (434/2003) are not directly applicable to Hansel, but the provisions in the Act and their interpretations do have a general bearing on procurement. Since the majority of Hansel’s customers comply with the Administrative Procedure Act, we are also expected to abide by its principles. Hansel also applies the appropriate parts of the recommendations of the Public Service Code of Ethics Committee Report (3/2014).

From Hansel’s point of view, situations involving disqualification may arise, for example, when an employee changes jobs from a supplier to Hansel. We follow a principle that employees should not be tasked with any assignments related to their previous employer, its partner or competitor, immediately after assuming their new position. For any outside employment, permission must be obtained from the Chief Executive Officer.

The most typical and commonest situation involving disqualification arises if a Hansel expert’s next of kin of anyone in their immediate circle has a personal interest in the procurement. If this is the case, the employee will not be involved in the competitive tendering process.

Hansel’s specialists give regular lectures at functions organised by the company’s stakeholders. The company takes a positive stand to utilising Hansel employees’ procurement expertise widely among stakeholders.

Hansel employees may witness situations that constitute a breach of competition laws. These include price fixing, market sharing or abuse of a dominant market position. If Hansel specialists suspect that competition laws have been breached, they will inform Hansel’s Head of Legal Affairs.