INTRODUCTION

This Professional Code of Ethics policy aims to give the Employees of Relohagen – of Copenhagen guidelines on the business ethics and stance on various controversial matters. As it is the understanding, that the Employees use their better judgment, this policy is a concrete guide, which the employees can fall back on in case of any uncertainty (e.g., in cases of conflict of interest). Relohagen – of Copenhagen will also use this policy to outline the consequences of violating our business code of ethics.

This policy applies to everyone we employ or have business relations with. This includes individual people such as employees and contractors, but also business entities.

• Respect for others. Treat people as you want to be treated.

• Integrity and honesty. Tell the truth and avoid any wrongdoing to the best of your ability.

• Conflict of interest.

• Make sure you’re objective and fair and don’t disadvantage others.

• Know and follow the law – always.

• Competence and accountability. Work hard and be responsible for your work.

• Collaborate and ask for help.

RESPECT

It’s mandatory to respect everyone you interact with. Be kind, polite and understanding. You must respect others’ personal space, opinions and privacy. Any kind of violence is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate termination. You’re also not allowed to harass or victimize others.

What constitutes harassment or victimization? As a rule, try to put yourself in someone else’s place. How would you feel if someone behaved a specific way to you? If the answer is “I wouldn’t like it much” or “I would never let them behave like that to me”, then we don’t tolerate this behavior no matter the person it comes from.

If someone, be it customer, colleague, or stakeholder, is offensive, demeaning or threatening toward you or someone you know, report them immediately to your manager. You can also report rudeness and dismissiveness if they become excessive or frequent.

INTEGRITY

First, always keep in mind Relohagen – of Copenhagen’s mission. We all work together to achieve specific outcomes. Your behavior should contribute to our goals, whether financial or organizational.

Be honest and transparent when you act in ways that impact other people. We don’t tolerate malicious, deceitful, or petty conduct. Lies and cheating are huge red flags and, if you’re discovered, you may face progressive discipline or immediate termination depending on the damage you did.

Stealing from the company or other people is illegal. If you’re caught, you will face repercussions depending on the severity of your actions. For example, if you steal office supplies, you may receive a reprimand or demotion (at a minimum), while if you steal money or data (e.g., engaging in fraud or embezzlement), you will get fired and face legal consequences. The decision is at the Board’s discretion on a case-by-case basis.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Conflict of interest may occur whenever your interest in a particular subject leads you to actions, activities or relationships that undermine our company. This includes situations like using your position’s authority for your own personal gain or exploiting company resources to support a personal money-making business. Even when you seemingly act to the company’s advantage, you may disadvantage it. For example, if an employee uses dubious methods to get competitor intel and raise their sales record, their action will have a positive impact on the company’s revenue, but it will put us at a legal risk and promote unhealthy business practices.

If it turns out you have created a conflict of interest for yourself, you will be terminated. If the conflict of interest was involuntary (e.g., buying stocks from a company without knowing they’re a competitor), we will take actions to rectify the situation. If you repeat the offence, you may be terminated.

JUSTICE

Don’t act in a way that exploits others, their hard work or their mistakes. Give everyone equal opportunity and speak up when someone else doesn’t.

Be objective when making decisions that can impact other people, including when you’re deciding to hire, promote or fire someone. Be sure that you can justify any decision with written records or examples. Seek and use the most objective methods in any case; for example, when interviewing candidates, ask the same interview questions to all of them and avoid judging non-job-related criteria, like dress, appearance, etc.

Also, don’t discriminate against people with protected characteristics. If you suspect you may have an unconscious bias that influences your decisions, ask for help.

When exercising authority, be fair. Don’t show favoritism toward specific employees and be transparent when you decide to praise or reward an employee. You’re also obliged to follow our employment of relatives policy, which forbids you from having a reporting relationship with a relative.

Be just toward customers or vendors, too. If you think our company was in the wrong in a specific instance, don’t try to cover it up or accuse the other side. Discuss with your manager to find solutions that can benefit both sides.

LAWFULNESS

You are obliged to follow all laws which apply to our organization. There might be various laws you need to observe and be fully aware of, depending on your position.

You’re also covered by our confidentiality and data protection policy. You must not expose, disclose, or endanger information of customers, employees, stakeholders, or our business. Always follow our cybersecurity policy, too.

Following laws regarding fraud, bribery, corruption, and any kind of assault is a given. You are also obliged to follow laws on child labor and avoid doing business with unlawful organizations.

If you’re not sure what the law is in a specific instance, don’t hesitate to ask your manager.

COMPETENCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

We all need to put a healthy amount of effort in our work. Not just because we’re all responsible for the organization’s success, but also because slacking off affects our colleagues. Incomplete or slow working might hinder other people’s work or cause them to shoulder the burden themselves. This comes in direct conflict with our respect and integrity principles.

We also expect you to take up opportunities for learning and development, either on-the-job or via educational material or training. 

Also, take responsibility for your actions. We all make mistakes or need to make tough decisions and it’s important we own up to them. Failing to be accountable on a regular basis or in important situations will result in termination. Take responsibility and come up with ways to fix your mistakes where possible, and you will be in a far better position.

TEAMWORK

Working well with others is a virtue, rather than an obligation. You will certainly get to work autonomously and be focused on your own projects and responsibilities. But you should also be ready to collaborate with and help others.

Be generous with your expertise and knowledge. Be open to learning and evolving. If days go by without you consulting or brainstorming with anyone, you are missing out on opportunities for excellence. Instead, work with others and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.