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Our Values - And How We Act on Them
How does a global company make sure everyone is basing his or her decisions on the corporation’s fundamental values? For that matter, what are a corporation’s values, and how do people know what they are?
These are questions Sara Lee executives and employees debated in the process of creating a program called Global Business Practices, which seeks to communicate and reinforce the company’s basic values. Since its inception in 1997, Global Business Practices has reached virtually every employee in the company.
The goal of the Global Business Practices program is to support the Sara Lee culture where doing the right thing is our everyday way of doing business. It emphasizes not only compliance with laws, but also, more important, behavior consistent with Sara Lee’s mission, vision and values. The program gives employees a framework within which to make decisions. Sara Lee’s Global Business Practices is encapsulated in a document called Global Business Standards written in a simple manner, translated into more than 20 languages and distributed to every employee.
Sara Lee has a global infrastructure of Business Practices Officers overseeing the ethics and compliance program in each of the company’s business units. They are responsible for making sure every employee receives regular training, a key component of the program. Employees learn from actual case studies about questionable behavior and use the business practices program to agree on a proper course of action.
The company also has Business Practices Committees that meet regularly to assess their organization’s efforts and to review and investigate inquiries, complaints and any allegations of wrongdoing. Employees are encouraged to raise issues through a variety of channels: their supervisor or manager, other managers, Human Resources, Internal Audit, Legal Department, Business Practices Officer, or the Business Practices Resource Line at +1.800.285.7964. Outside the United States, callers may contact the Resource Line toll-free by using the AT&T Direct Access number, or by calling +1.312.345.5715 and reversing the charges. Local toll-free numbers also are available in several countries.
The Resource Line is available worldwide 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Employees may call confidentially or anonymously, send an email to Business.Practices@saralee.com or post a report onto www.saraleeresourceline.com.
Sara Lee’s commitment to conducting business with integrity does not end with employees. The Global Standards for Business Partners define the minimum requirements for Sara Lee's business partners. Sara Lee believes in doing business with those business partners, including suppliers, manufacturers, contractors, joint-venture partners, agents, distributors and consultants, who embrace and demonstrate high standards of ethical business behavior. Sara Lee expects all business partners to comply with the law, do the right thing and communicate concerns about inappropriate business practices promptly to the company. Living up to these responsibilities will help create continued success for Sara Lee and its valued business partners.
Business partners, their employees and their business partners may contact the Resource Line to report concerns or violations of the standards.
