Code of Conduct
1. PURPOSE AND APPLICATION
1.1 Purpose of this Code
Force Technology International Pty Ltd (the Company) insists on honesty and integrity in all its dealings, including its dealings with stakeholders.
This code of conduct (Code) sets out the ethical standards and rules of the Company and provides a framework to guide compliance with legal and other obligations to stakeholders.
The board of directors of the Company (Board) and senior executives believe that the Company’s commitment to this Code will maintain the confidence of the Company’s key stakeholders.
1.2 Application of this Code
This Code applies to all directors on the Board, as well as all officers, employees, contractors and consultants of the Company.
It is essential that each of you are familiar with this Code, which is available on the Company’s website, and abide by the rules set out in it.
The Company also expects each of you to abide by all laws, and to conduct yourselves in all your dealings with or on behalf of the Company with the highest ethical and moral standards.
This Code charges each of you with the responsibility to report unethical conduct to the Company Chairman or your supervisor.
2. STAKEHOLDERS
The Company is committed to providing timely, balanced and readily available material information to relevant regulators and other key stakeholders. The Company is also committed to open and transparent communication with its stakeholders.
The Company has processes to ensure that the accounts and financial information it provides represent a true and fair view of the financial performance and position of the Company.
You must fully cooperate with, and not make any false or misleading statement to, or conceal any relevant information from, the Company’s auditors.
3. HONESTY AND INTEGRITY
The Company:
• recognises that transparency and openness in business conduct play a key role in building, maintaining stakeholder loyalty and earning the trust of employees;
• does not tolerate dishonest behaviour or engage in illegal activities, nor does it assist others to engage in such behavior. We are committed to giving accurate, honest and complete information when requested.
We strive to act professionally and work together as a team.
4. FAIR DEALING
The Company acknowledges it has a responsibility to stakeholders and the broader community to engage in fair dealing.
You must deal with the Company’s customers, clients, suppliers, competitors and with each other with the highest level of honesty, fairness and respect.
The Company has a strict policy not to offer secret commissions, favours or bribes to further its business interests. You must not accept any money, opportunity or other benefit of any kind which could be interpreted as an inducement, secret commission or bribe. Care must be exercised in accepting hospitality or gifts over and above that required for the normal conduct of business or which may compromise your impartiality.
You must protect the Company’s assets and property and not misuse them, so as to ensure their availability for legitimate business purposes. You must not use Company funds, information, property or your position to improperly gain benefit for yourself or for another party. You must not use the Company’s assets for personal purposes, except in accordance with Company policy or approved arrangement. Limited use of Company property (such as computers and telephones) is permitted for private purposes, provided it is used in an efficient and prudent manner.
All work performed while you are with the Company belongs to the Company.
5. COMPLIANCE WITH LEGISLATION
You must comply with all laws and regulations relating to the Company. All actual or potential breaches must be reported immediately to the Company Chairman or your supervisor.
Ignorance of the law or a good intention does not excuse your obligation to comply. You must participate in relevant compliance training programs offered by the Company.
If you are uncertain about the interpretation of any applicable law or regulation or requirement, contact your supervisor or the Company Chairman.
6. EMPLOYMENT
The Company strives to employ the best available personnel with the skills and qualifications necessary to carry out each position. Discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, colour, marital status, sexual orientation, transgender status, age, disability, personal associations, political beliefs, family responsibilities, pregnancy, membership or non-membership of a trade union is not tolerated by the Company.
Physical or verbal harassment or abuse in the workplace is not tolerated by the Company.
The Company is committed to ensuring a diverse work environment in which everyone is treated fairly and with respect and where everyone feels responsible for the reputation and performance of the Company.
The Company is committed to the ongoing training and educational support of its employees. We seek to improve our skills, knowledge and competencies and strive to assist others in improving theirs as may be required for each individual position.
The Company is committed to providing a safe work environment for employees and the health and safety of our employees is of primary importance. The Company will work to implement and maintain proper occupational health and safety practices and eliminate hazardous practices and behavior which could cause accident, injury or illness to employees, contractors, visitors and the general public. You are required to report to your supervisor any hazards or injuries that occur to you or to others. All reported incidents will be thoroughly investigated with a view to preventing a similar injury occurring.
You must be below the Company’s designated minimum blood alcohol level and be free from the influence of drugs whilst at work.
7. COMMUNITY
The Company is committed to being a good corporate citizen. Where possible the Company will strive to provide support for community activities and may provide donations or sponsorship for community events if it sees fit.
We will use our best endeavours to conduct our business and operations in a manner that is environmentally responsible and sustainable and will monitor on an ongoing basis the impact of our decisions on the community and environment. The Company will comply with all legal and regulatory requirements for environmental management and protection.
8. CONFIDENTIALITY
You must take great care to ensure the integrity and security of all of the Company’s confidential information.
Confidential information is non-public information which relates to the affairs of the Company and its employees, clients, customers and suppliers. It may include the Company’s business strategies, technical reports and data, marketing and sales plans, competitive analysis, financial plans and forecasts, customer or employee information, and supplier information and pricing.
You must keep confidential information acquired while you are with the Company confidential, even after you leave the Company.
You must not access or request or make improper use of or transfer or disclose confidential information to anyone else except as required by your position or as authorised or legally required. If confidential information inadvertently comes into your possession it should be returned immediately.
If you are required by an authority to provide confidential information which has not been otherwise authorised, you must notify the Chief Executive Officer or Company Chairman.
9. PRIVACY
You must respect and maintain the privacy of personal information held or entrusted to the Company by its clients, customers, suppliers, employees and others.
All personal information of the Company’s suppliers, customers and employees is to be treated as confidential.
Personal information is information or an opinion, whether true or not, and whether recorded in material form or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from that information or opinion.
The Company acknowledges that it has a responsibility to recognise and respect the rights of individuals and will comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
10. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Conflicts of interest should be avoided and, if they occur, should be disclosed.
A conflict of interest may arise where you have a personal or commercial interest which may interfere, or appear to interfere with the interests of the Company as a whole. There may be a conflict of interest, for example, if you or your family have a personal or commercial interest which may influence you in the performance of your duties and responsibilities so that your loyalties are divided.
You must not allow personal interests or the interests of family or friends to conflict with the interests of the Company. You must avoid participating in decisions and activities which may conflict with your duties and responsibilities to the Company.
The approval of the Company is required before you accept a directorship or position in any other company, business or organisation as a director, agent, employee or consultant, whether paid or unpaid, which may, or may be seen to, give rise to a conflict of interest.
Where a real or apparent conflict of interest arises, or if there is any doubt as to whether a conflict of interest exists or should be disclosed, the matter must be brought to the attention of:
(a) in the case of a Board member, the Chairman;
(b) in the case of a member of management, the Board; or
(c) in the case of an employee, the supervisor.
When you are involved in a conflict you must not take part in any decision making process of the Company relating to that conflict.
11. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE
You are responsible for ensuring your individual compliance with this Code. Where doubt or questions arise in relation to the Code, you should seek guidance from the Company Chairman or your supervisor.
The Company will monitor compliance with the Code by periodically liaising with the Board, management and employees.
12. NON-COMPLIANCE MEASURES
The values and policies in this Code are not exhaustive. This Code is designed to focus you on particular values identified by the Company as central to its integrity.
We all have a responsibility to report any actual or suspected fraudulent or unethical behaviour and any breaches of this Code or the Company’s policies to our supervisor. Any non-compliance that constitutes fraud or would otherwise seriously compromise the reputation of the Company is considered a serious breach of the Code and must be reported to the Chief Executive Officer.
The Company will protect anyone who, in good faith, comes forward to report such behaviour. The Company is committed to ensuring that you can raise concerns about this behaviour without fear of victimisation, harassment or discriminatory treatment.
Suspected breaches of this Code are treated seriously by the Company and will be investigated. If a breach is found to have occurred, the person in breach may face legal or disciplinary action including termination.
13. REVIEW OF THE CODE
The Board will review this Code of Conduct from time to time. Suggestions for improvements or amendments to this Code can be made by any employee of the Company at any time by providing a written note to the Board. This Code may be amended by resolution of the Board.
A copy of this Code will be distributed to all directors and employees and will be available on the Company’s website.