We believe that observing a strict code of corporate ethics should be an essential core value for any corporate entity. Concurrent with our adoption of a holding company system, we drafted new Group corporate ethics guidelines based on the parent company's existing corporate ethics guidelines and standards of conduct. Through education and our annual Corporate Ethics Week, we are endeavoring to promote greater awareness of corporate ethics among employees.
To ensure the ongoing relevance of our corporate ethics guidelines and related activities, we use surveys and hotlines, information from which is used to help us gauge the effectiveness of efforts, address issues and communicate with employees.
Teijin realizes that its employees must have a clear and comprehensive understanding of Group corporate ethics to ensure maintenance of high ethical standards. Accordingly, in 1998 Teijin published The Teijin Group's Corporate Ethics Handbook, which was last updated in April, 2007. The last updated Handbook carries the 2006-2007 revisions of the Teijin Group's Corporate Code of Conduct and Corporate Satandards of Conduct, which cover all of the CSR areas and reflect recent amendments of major Japanese laws. Teijin currently distributes copies to all employees and strives to promote awareness.
We have opened a sexual harassment hotline, which offers Group employees confidential consulting on harassment, and a compliance hotline, which enables employees to consult on compliance issues or report problems with trained counselors from an objective, external firm in complete confidence. The firm reports to the Group on the nature of queries and reports, enabling Group companies to respond.
A Group intranet also enables employees to submit queries, suggestions and requests to the Corporate Ethics Suggestion Box, which is overseen directly by the CRO.
