Panalpina Annual Report 2006

Sustainable Growth
58 Panalpina Annual Report 2006
Corporate culture: Taking responsibility
is part of day­to­day business
Panalpina sees entrepreneurial
responsibility as a multi­faceted
obligation that must be part of the
daily lives of both management and
employees. The Group defines its
organization, processes and internal
guidelines in such a way as to ensure
that the company is in a position
to meet this obligation at any time.
The activity of a global forwarding and logistics
group is particularly closely connected with all
aspects of advancing globalization. Panalpina’s
activities are therefore conducted in accordance
with economic, social and cultural principles that
are, in the most comprehensive sense possible,
conducive to sustained business success.
The success of the Group is based on the contributions
of all employees, and on cooperation
amongst the most diverse personalities and talents
to generate new, creative business opportunities.
Panalpina therefore maintains a healthy, attractive
working environment in which every individual
feels responsible for the company’s reputation and
its success. Panalpina attaches great importance
to a corporate culture in which the rights and dignity
of all employees are respected – regardless of
their origins, beliefs or lifestyle.
At Panalpina, however, the importance of mutual
respect and fairness is not limited to internal relations.
Wherever they transact business, representatives
of the company are also required to uphold
ethical standards in their day­to­day contact with
customers, suppliers, competitors, official bodies
and the public in general.
During the year under review, pre­existing internal
policies were consolidated into a groupe­wide
Code of Business Conduct. This comprehensive
set of regulations contains guidelines that are mandatory
for all employees. Topics covered include
how to handle conflicts of interest, the avoidance
of insider transactions, fair competition and dealing,
the prohibition of bribery, the prevention of
discrimination and harassment in the workplace,
health and safety regulations and much more.
Conforming to the latest standards and based on
a mission statement from the Board of Directors
and the Executive Board, the code of conduct
increases transparency within the company – as
well as the risk­awareness of every individual
employee. In a number of ways, it reinforces the
corporate culture that is already a traditional part
of the company’s operations.
www.panalpina.com/culture