2023
Since its foundation in 1998, adherence to the principle of legality and acting responsibly and fairly in our business dealings have always been the cornerstone of Serviceware’s corporate values.
Our vision is to enable people to achieve their goals in the service economy.
Our team and our business partners play a significant role in achieving this goal. Thus, we regard a common understanding of ethical values and sustainable practices as the basis of our collaboration with internal and external partners. Accordingly, the rules and requirements stated in this Code of Conduct are an indispensable foundation of every partnership.
This Code of Conduct is inextricably linked to the Serviceware Sustainability Strategy 2030. It concretizes focus topics in the different fields of action of the strategy and supports sustainability focus initiatives.
Serviceware strictly respects the principle of legality in all company activities, both implicitly through its actions and explicitly in contractual agreements. These include payment of applicable taxes and customs duties, compliance with competition and antitrust laws, a strict prohibition of corruption and money laundering, application of state-of-the-art technology, procurement of the required official licenses, compliance with export control laws, and respect for the legal rights of third parties.
Consequently, we expect our employees and business partners to act according to the prevailing laws and regulations and abide by the present Code of Conduct rules as part of their collaboration with Serviceware. We expect them to ensure that third parties engaged in fulfilling contractual obligations towards Serviceware also comply with this Code of Conduct.
Fair treatment of employees
Serviceware and its business partners must observe the fundamental rights of their employees based on the applicable national labour laws. In addition, the following rules are aligned with the International Labor Organization’s (ILO), Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Human rights
Our employees and business partners respect internationally recognized human rights and actively protect such rights.
Forced labour
Our business partners and we reject all forms of forced labour and respect the principle of freely chosen employment.
Freedom of association
Serviceware and its business partners respect freedom of association and the right to form interest groups. Accordingly, they grant their employees the right to articulate their interests within the framework of the labour laws in force in their country.
Equal opportunities
Serviceware and its business partners do not tolerate discrimination of any kind based on skin colour, ethnic origin, gender, age, nationality, social background, disability, sexual orientation, religious belief, or human ideology.
Fair working conditions
Serviceware and its business partners pay wages and social benefits equal to or higher than the rates prescribed by national or regional authorities, legal standards, or other labour agreements. Accordingly, the applicable regulations governing working hours and vacation entitlements are observed.
Occupational health and safety
At the minimum, Serviceware and its business partners comply with national workplace safety and hygiene standards and take appropriate measures to ensure that the relevant occupational health and safety requirements are met to ensure healthy working conditions.
Environmental protection
Serviceware and its business partners take measures to avoid risks to human life and the environment, limit the environmental impact of their operations, and manage resources responsibly. All processes, operating sites and production resources employed by Serviceware and its business partners must meet the applicable legal requirements and standards concerning fire safety and environmental protection.
Avoiding conflicts of interest
Decisions made by Serviceware employees, or our business partners must be based on factual considerations rather than being improperly influenced by personal interests. Therefore, if any Serviceware employee or business partner becomes aware of a potential conflict of interest, this fact must be communicated to Serviceware immediately.
Free competition
Serviceware and its business partners observe the rules of fair competition, complying with all applicable statutory regulations. Moreover, they refrain from forming cartels or engaging in concerted practices deliberately or incidentally designed to bypass, restrict, or distort competition as defined by antitrust laws or abuse a dominant market position.
Corruption
Serviceware and its business partners agree to abide by the applicable anti-corruption laws. In particular, they ensure that their employees, subcontractors, or representatives do not offer, promise or grant advantages to associates of Serviceware to obtain a contract or other preferential treatment in the course of business. The same rules apply to agreements with third parties concluded in connection with a contract with Serviceware.
Trade secrets
Serviceware and its business partners must ensure that confidential company information is kept secret and respected intellectual property rights. This condition applies beyond the termination of the business relationship. Our business partners agree to comply with all applicable data protection laws and limit their use of third-party software (including open-source software and firmware) only within the scope allowed by law and in compliance with the respective license conditions.
Money laundering
Serviceware and its business partners must comply with the legal regulations concerning the prevention of money laundering.
Funding of armed groups
We expect our employees and business partners to desist from all activities that might directly or indirectly contribute to the funding of armed groups. This includes observing international treaties and national laws concerning trade in conflict minerals and other natural resources.
We expect our employees and business partners to communicate the content of this Code of Conduct to all third parties they engage in fulfilling their contractual obligations toward Serviceware, to observe its principles when selecting subcontractors, and ensure they comply with its requirements.
Serviceware reserves the right to take reasonable steps to verify the compliance of its employees and business partners’ actions with the Code of Conduct. Serviceware also reserves the right to take appropriate measures in the event of non-compliance of internal or external partners with the Code of Conduct.