Sustainability Report 2012 - Generali Versicherung AG

POLICIES AND MANAGEMENT TOOLSOn 14 December 2012, the Parent Company’s Board ofDirectors approved the new Code of Conduct, whichreplaced the pre-existing Ethical Code of the GeneraliGroup, becoming the main reference guide for the Group’ssocial responsibility policies. In fact, the document refersto the fundamental principles which Generali drawsinspiration from, the principles of correctness andintegrity first and foremost, and explicitly outlines thecommitments undertaken by the Group in the field ofsustainability. The Code of Conduct defines the minimumstandards of conduct that employees and third partiesoperating on behalf of the Group, e.g. agents, suppliersand consultants, are required to observe. To this end,the role assigned to persons within the organisation whohold positions of responsibility should be pointed out,who are required to engage in exemplary behaviour andpromote a culture of ethical conduct which conforms tothe rules within the respective spheres of competence.The new Code is designed as a tool for practical andconstant consultation and, for this purpose, also includesexplanatory notes and concrete suggestions.In order to ensure the most accurate roll-out of the rulesof the Code within the company environment, said codeis supplemented by a system of Group Rules, issued bythe Group CEO.In terms of the contents of the Code of Conduct, ofparticular note is the considerable attention focused onpromoting diversity with a view to ensuring inclusion,transparency and truthfulness in direct communicationswith all stakeholders, on the management of conflicts ofinterests and the fight against corruption, bribery, moneylaundering and terrorism financing.In order to ensure compliance with the Code, theGroup encourages anyone to report conduct engagedin by employees or by third parties operating on behalfof the Company (agents, suppliers, consultants, etc.)that they, in good faith, deem to be inappropriate,ensuring the reporting party is protected from any kindof reprisal. In order to overcome any remaining qualmsover reporting events which may potentially endangerthe Group’s business affairs and reputation, reports canalso be sent anonymously, unless prohibited by locallaw. Two Group reporting channels have been set up,which operate alongside already existing local channels:e-mail (concerns.co@generali.com) and post (GroupCompliance - Business Integrity - Via Machiavelli 3,34132 Trieste). The Generali Group Compliance Helplineis due to go online, a dedicated line accessible via phoneor web and managed by an external specialised andindependent supplier.As already stated, the Ethical Code of the Group remainedin force until December 2012; therefore, any reports ofbreaches during the year were managed in applicationof the provisions contained therein. In particular, theCorporate Social Responsibility department receiveda total of two reports of breaches of the Ethical Code:the first, sent by a client, related to an alleged lack ofcorrectness, while the other, sent by an employee,concerned an alleged instance of discrimination.Based on the investigation results, both were, however,considered to be without grounds. Lastly, a reportreceived in 2011 is still pending.The Code of Conduct is available on thewebsite www.generali.com/SustainabilitySome documents issued prior to the publication of theCode of Conduct remain in force, which govern specificaspects.The first is the European Social Charter of the GeneraliGroup, adopted by the Parent Company in 2006 anddrafted in collaboration with the European Works Council(EWC). The document reconfirms the guiding principleson the protection of collaborators and, more generally, theGroup’s image, valid in all member states of the EuropeanUnion in which the Group operates.The aspects that characterise the contents of thedocument are full respect for the fundamental minimumrights of collaborators; the promotion of social dialoguebetween management and workers’ representatives;the search for better strategies for the management,protection and enhancement of human resources;compliance with trade union rights and workers’representation, as well the exercise of the associatedfunctions.The European Social Charter of the GeneraliGroup is available on the websitewww.generali.com/CareersThe Ethical Code for suppliers of the Generali Group,approved by the Parent Company’s Board of Directorsin December 2011, sets out the general principles thatmust form the basis of valuable relations with contractualpartners.In this document, the Group guarantees its suppliersconduct characterised by correctness, transparencyand confidentiality, asking them to align themselves withthe company policies when carrying out their activitiesand ensuring their compliance also at all levels of therespective supply chains.the group | 31