APC 2013 Annual Report Download - page 70

2SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
RESPONSIBLE EXPANSION OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES DRIVING ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
Measuring rollout and effectiveness
This code of conduct publicly affirms Schneider Electric’s
commitment to protect the personal data of its employees but also
The Responsibility&Ethics Dynamics program is primarily the of its customers, which is a measure of a digital strategy that
subject of regular internal communication. The objective is to reconciles economic business objectives and respect for the
inform all the employees and remind the management teams of the fundamental right of people to protect their data and their privacy.
priority actions that they must drive forward, depending on the
Policies in high-risk areas
risks to which they are exposed in their countries of operation.
In addition and since the program was launched in2010, it has
been the subject of an assessment conducted by Internal Audit. As a global and responsible company, Schneider Electric has strict
policies and practices in areas identified as high-risk and its
Our Principles of Responsibility were rolled out in all the Group’s operations, in these areas, have been significantly reduced or
entities in2010. The results of the Internal Audit communicated at eliminated. The Group strictly respects all applicable embargos and
the end of 2011, which included the findings of a survey of 19 regulations. It prohibits “Dual Use Goods” – products which
countries (the most exposed countries according to the perception potentially could be used for sensitive applications such as military.
index of Transparency International) of more than 30,000 It screens the parties it engages with against applicable denied
employees, were: parties lists to ensure it does not support or fund activities
75% of the employees surveyed are familiar with Our Principles
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unintentionally. It restricts its business to activities that help the
of Responsibility (83% if a recently acquired entity is excluded); countries improve their electrical distribution infrastructure.
84% of survey participants stated that the information given was
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Award for excellence 2013
useful and comprehensive.
Beyond the figures, the audit revealed two very important points:
The Group is proud of having been included in The Ethisphere
on the one hand, regarding the means of communication judged
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Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies indicator for the third
the most effective;
year in a row.
and on the other, on the level of perception of Our Principles of
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Responsibility by position within the company. Schneider Electric is among 100international companies
recognized for their ethical commitment and behavior. The
Since2012, these lessons are driving us to integrate performance measure looks at the existence and consistency of
communication into the Schneider Electric University training governance, the reputation and influence of the company, the
programs and to use supplementary action for the job posts where quality of actions promoting citizenship and social responsibility,
the result is weakest. and the culture and actions promoting ethics. This recognition is
Personal data protection
reassuring for the Group as it implements the
Responsibility&Ethics Dynamics program.
Achievements in 2013 and outlook for 2014
Building a global organization requires the pooling of our
information systems (human resources, customer relationship Program rollout continued along various axes:
management, suppliers, etc.) and globally sharing our databases
continuing communication actions and training for employees in
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among all entities. However, personal data protection regulations
countries most susceptible to breaches of ethics;
restrict cross-border flows of personal data by subjecting them to
strict constraints requiring the signing of contractual agreements continuation of implementing simple measures to enable
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between the entities concerned. employees to understand ethical dilemmas in an operational
context and to help them place themselves above the risk level
Schneider Electric chooses to provide legal certainty for to which they may be exposed. To this end, with the Purchasing
cross-border flows by developing a code of conduct for the and Human Resources functions, in 2013 the Sustainable
protection of personal data (Binding Corporate Rules), an option Development Department established the first training kits for
proposed to multinationals by the personal data protection managers of the Group. Each kit, for use at team meetings,
authorities in Europe. includes an ethical dilemma placed in a real-life context, three
Schneider Electric’s Binding Corporate Rules were approved on examples of typical behaviors and an explanation of the behavior
November27, 2012 by the personal data protection authorities in recommended by the Group. For 2014, the goal is to continue
26Member States of the European Union. building these kits with other functions and ensure their proper
use;
These data protection rules will be applicable to all Schneider
Electric subsidiaries worldwide. The communication plan, working with the Principles of Responsibility Advisors to forge
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e-learning module and practical guides will be available to allow for closer ties between the principles and the operational
harmonized deployment of the Binding Corporate Rules, which will procedures and directives that should be readily available to all
be binding on all employees. Their implementation will be subject Group employees. The operation of networks formed on the
to an annual audit, whose report will be available to the personal subject of ethics and responsibility is a priority for 2014.
data protection authorities.
68 2013 REGISTRATION DOCUMENT SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC