Image created by Symantec employee Gianluca Busco.
At Symantec, ethics are core to how we do business and the sustainability of our company depends upon the trust of those that depend upon us. Corruption can take place in any market, in any number of contexts, and to ensure a relationship of transparency and confidence with our stakeholders we must not only be led by what the law requires of us, but demonstrate that we are moving beyond this to be a leader in ethical business practices.
For this reason, our corporate ethics go beyond regulatory compliance; they are rooted in a commitment to always make decisions that work best for our multiple stakeholder groups, whether it be employees, shareowners, customers, or our local communities.
We are extremely proud to be recognized for the eighth consecutive yearas one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, a leading organization dedicated to researching business ethics and corporate responsibility.
This honor has been given to Symantec after reviewing our programs and practices in ethics and compliance, corporate citizenship, and governance, among other aspects of our business. The list highlights companies that outperform industry peers in these categories, and Symantec is one of only four companies included in the “computer software” category this year.
“The World’s Most Ethical Companies embrace the correlation between ethical business practice and improved company performance,” said Ethisphere’s Chief Executive Officer, Timothy Erblich. “Through their commitment to innovative corporate citizenship and sustainability efforts and robust compliance & ethics program, Symantec has earned a place among the 2015 World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 8th consecutive year. We congratulate everyone at Symantec for this extraordinary achievement.”
A Culture of Trust.
Our approach to ethics is codified in our Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption Policy, and other guiding policies. But developing policies isn’t enough. Successful implementation globally depends on a strong governance structure and effective training program. Symantec’s Office of Ethics and Compliance maintains a governance framework that guides our interactions with all of our internal and external stakeholders to ensure they align with our ethical policies and values. Additionally, all employees are enrolled in an annual Code of Conduct training and certification, including a section on our Human Rights Policy. And new employees are trained within 30 days of starting.
We recognize that people want to work for companies that do the right thing, so we strive to ensure that all Symantec employees and managers understand and demonstrate our collective values. All employees and managers are trained in our corporate values as part of the onboarding process. Furthermore, senior management stay involved by joining the company’s Ethics and Compliance meetings.
Beyond Compliance. Our Global Efforts.
Symantec is very involved with anti-corruption efforts on a broader scale as well. We support international frameworks such as the UN Convention Against Corruption, and we serve on the Anti-Corruption Working Group of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC).
To show their support for the 10th anniversary of the UNGC’s principle on anti-corruption, on December 9th, 2014 (International Anti-Corruption Day), employees at our Mountain View headquarters participated in a “walk against corruption,” and submitted creative works that demonstrated what anti-corruption means to them.
We are delighted that our efforts have been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute, especially considering the rigor with which they have analyzed companies’ ethical practices. This year, Ethisphere recognized 132 companies spanning 21 countries and five continents, using a robust scoring methodology. To see the complete list of the 2015 World’s Most Ethical Companies, please view Ethisphere’s full honoree list. To learn more about our approach to corporate responsibility and ethics, please visit our Corporate Responsibility site.