Choice Code of Conduct
Foreword by the Executive Board
As an economically successful company, Choice AG has a great responsibility towards its business partners and employees, as well as society as a whole. It is therefore a matter of course for us as company management that existing legal regulations as well as ethical and moral principles must also form the basis of our actions and the framework for business decisions. The Management Board of Choice AG is committed to complying with these rules and maintaining a constant awareness of them, but also demands the same from all employees and business partners of the Choice Group. Both the Management Board and the Supervisory Board of Choice AG are guided by the principles and recommendations of the German Corporate Governance Code when managing and monitoring the company. Governance Code (DCGC). This is the only way we can make a contribution to a sustainable future.
Compliance at Choice: goals and culture
This Code of Conduct and the associated compliance guidelines are intended to make a valuable contribution to achieving and adhering to Choice’s compliance objectives. These objectives guide the actions of all players in the company and are an integral part of Choice’s corporate culture:
- Choice avoids any damage and risks for business partners, its own company and its employees.
- Choice is a credible and reputable service provider, business partner and employer.
- Choice anchors integrity, ethics and morals as fixed components of the strategy and culture.
All employees of the Group should be aware that they can and must make an important contribution to achieving these goals through their work. They therefore also bear responsibility for the integrity of the company.
Guidelines for avoiding potential risks
Choice AG endeavors to reduce as many risks as possible. All employees are therefore required to set high standards of ethics and morality in their work. In order to anchor this in the company, the following clear guidelines apply to all our activities and business relationships.
- We do not tolerate violations of human rights and equal opportunities.
- We pay attention to sustainability and are continuously reducing our ecological footprint.
- We take care of our own health and safety.
- We handle company property and financial resources responsibly.
- We are all ambassadors for the company and communicate responsibly to the outside world.
- We are sensitive and confidential when handling data and information.
- We ensure a high level of security when dealing with our IT.
- We reject all forms of corruption and influence peddling.
- We act in accordance with the performance principle, do not enter into any anti-competitive agreements with suppliers, customers or competitors and select our service providers exclusively on the basis of objective criteria.
- We pay attention to correct and transparent accounting and reporting.
Principles in the business relationship
Compliance Management System of Choice
Choice AG maintains a compliance management system to ensure that the company’s compliance objectives are maintained. This system is also intended to help support the processes and procedures required to achieve compliance objectives. The system is made up of the following components. Choice AG is confident that these measures are a valuable building block for a sustainable future.
Create awareness
Our employees are regularly sensitized and trained with regard to our compliance guidelines.
Risk analysis
We regularly analyze our divisions and business relationships and evaluate potential risks, their consequences and probability of occurrence.
Monitoring and control
A Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) regularly and consistently monitors adherence to compliance principles in all areas of the company and our business relationships.
Whistleblower system
We would like to be informed about unlawful conduct in our company so that we can clarify and stop such behavior. We therefore encourage everyone – whether (former) employees, business partners or third parties – to inform us of any legal violations. We guarantee that all whistleblowers will be treated confidentially. Therefore, anyone (m/f/d) can also contact the Chief Compliance Officer, Dr. Götz Gerlach, directly. This can be used to send information without giving a name. However, we ask that you at least set up a mailbox under a different name that does not allow any conclusions to be drawn about your real identity so that we can ask questions. This makes it easier for us to clarify reported violations. We ask for your understanding that the whistleblower portal can only be used to report violations of laws, guidelines or our Code of Conduct. of Conduct is to be used.