CORPORATE CODE OF CONDUCT
CODE OF CONDUCT
Brian J. Foster
Chairman
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa has established high standard for its
employees, consultants and suppliers to live by in the conduct of its
business activities. The violation of this Code of Conduct policy can
lead to immediate employment or consultant termination without notice or
severance. For suppliers it can result in contract cancellation,
termination or penalties. The Code of Conduct concerns the following:
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Threats or acts of violence
• Ignorance of general standards and practices
• Harassment
• Moral turpitude
• Violation of health, environment and safety standards
• Violation of equal opportunity standards
• Conflicts of interest
• Dissemination of confidential information
• Conduct of corrupt practices
• Failure to administer the Code of Conduct
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa employees, consultants and suppliers
are responsible to review and understand this Code of Conduct guiding
principles and policy.
CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY - GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our
employees and the way we conduct business are central to achieving
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa Mission, living up to our
Values and following our Guiding Principles for doing business.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa's Guiding Principles for doing
business are based on our Mission and Values and confirm our commitment
to responsible business practices in all the communities in which we
work. These Guiding Principles form the backbone of our Code of Conduct.
They are the basis for our relationships in the diverse countries and
cultures where we live and conduct business, and reflect our
responsibility to protect the interests and well being of both present
and future generations. Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa
employees should understand these principles and be guided by them at
work.
ETHICS AND VALUES
We
will conduct our business openly, with honesty, integrity and trust. We
will respect human rights in all of our activities. We will obey the
law and we will operate in accordance with the highest ethical
standards; and we will expect the same from our partners, contractors
and suppliers.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
We
will encourage advancements in civil society wherever we conduct
business. We will be sensitive to the culture, context and needs of
local communities and strive to make the community a better place to
live and conduct business. We will support humanitarian initiatives that
promote health, education and economic well being in communities where
we work. We will encourage employee involvement in community programs
and socially responsible activities.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
We will develop natural resources and projects in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
WORKPLACE ISSUES
We
will provide a safe and secure working environment. We will provide
access to health care for our employees and their families, and, as
appropriate, help neighbouring communities meet basic public health
needs. We will seek a diverse base of employees and ensure equal
opportunity to all qualified individuals in recruiting, compensation,
professional development, promotion, and other employment practices. We
will ensure that a significant percentage of our employees, managers,
contractors, and suppliers in international operations are citizens of
the host country.
We will provide a supportive working environment in which all employees may freely contribute.
BUILDING ON OUR VALUES
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa strives to implement its Mission and
Values and Guiding Principles through its daily operations. To achieve
this aspiration, we will meet compliance requirements and have in place a
range of corporate policies and standards, and monitoring and reporting
systems. We also provide training and practical guidance to help
employees meet these standards.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa is committed to ethical business
practices, a safe workplace, environmental responsibility, compliance
with the law and improving the communities in which we work.
Our
Code of Conduct reflects our company's core values and high ethical
standards. This code applies to all of the company's directors, officers
and employees.
Code of Conduct - Drugs & Alcohol
Because drug and alcohol abuse can have serious safety and job performance consequences and can involve criminal conduct, Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa demands a drug and alcohol
impairment-free working environment. This standard applies to all
Company employees while they are on Hospital Planning Corporation West
Africa property or while they are at work off Hospital Planning
Corporation West Africa property.
Employees
who report for duty with illegal drugs in their system or report with
levels of alcohol or other chemical substances that could impair
performance are subject to disciplinary action including immediate
dismissal. Employees who experience significant work performance
problems or who become involved in significant incidents or accidents
are subject to discharge if medical tests show that such employees have
controlled substances in their system. Also subject to discharge are
employees who, while on duty or on company property, distribute, sell,
buy, manufacture, dispense, possess or use illegal drugs.
The
Human Resources department shall provide management with guidelines for
the administration of Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa's drug
and alcohol abuse standards and practices. Drug and Alcohol Program
Guidebook will be available from the Human Resources department, which
will provide procedures for the inspection, when appropriate, of
personal effects on company property and for the administration, when
appropriate, of tests approved by the Company’s Medical Director. These
guidelines provide for the same general procedures to be followed for
contractors or other persons who enter Hospital Planning Corporation
West Africa’s property.
Any
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa employee who believes he or
she may be experiencing problems with drug or alcohol abuse is urged to
inquire about the company's Employee Assistance Program. Details
regarding this rehabilitation program will be available from human
resources personnel or by directly contacting the Employee Assistance
Program. Such contact is kept confidential.
The
Human Resources department shall also provide guidelines for serving
alcohol at company related functions. Those guidelines will be available
from the Human Resources department.
Violence and Threats of Violence
Violence
and threats of violence (TOV) are unacceptable and should be reported
immediately to your supervisor or the Human Resources department. In the
event of an imminent threat, employees should first contact local
authorities and/or your facility's security. A report should also be
made to one of the following: the Human Resource department, or the
Compliance Alert Line. Procedures shall be instituted to provide
confidentiality. Every report of violence or a threat of violence will
be investigated and appropriate action will be taken. Employees who
engage in violence or threaten violence are subject to disciplinary
action, up to and including termination of employment, as well as
criminal prosecution.
General Practices and Standards
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa's management is committed to ensuring
the well being of our workers and the environment, as well as people
living and working in communities near our facilities. Human, physical
and financial resources will be provided to meet this commitment. These
resources are used to enable employees and contractors to work safely
and comply with the law, to prevent pollution and to protect the
environment.
Project
managers will assess the health, environment and safety (HES) risks of
their operations. Managers and staff are responsible and accountable for
developing and implementing standards, guidelines and procedures to
carry out this commitment in accordance with our Code of Conduct, our
corporate policies. Managers will include measurable goals in their
business plans to continually improve HES performance.
Hospital
Planning Corporation's activities are subject to many HES laws and
regulations addressing releases to air, discharges to water, disposal of
hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, transportation of hazardous
materials, management of chemical substances and emergency planning.
Worldwide, employees are expected to comply fully with company policies
and to adhere, at a minimum, to the applicable HES legal requirements of
their host country. Regulations, such as those issued by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA), and similar agencies in other locations, contain exacting
requirements and standards that set the minimum legal standards for
Hospital Planning Corporations facilities and employees in the country
where the referenced regulations apply. Industry recommended practices
provide additional guidance to help local management set standards for
the unique conditions at each facility.
All
necessary permits and agency approvals must be obtained prior to
facility construction, and followed during fabrication, installation and
startup. HES requirements must be assessed in all phases of a project
from design through operation. HES requirements must also be considered
in facility modifications, business or property acquisitions and
divestitures and facility closures.
Harassment
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa is committed to providing its
employees with a work environment free of any type of harassment.
Various country’s legislation prohibit any deliberate discrimination or
harassment, in word or action, against a fellow employee or applicant
for employment on the basis of race, gender, sexual preference, national
origin, religion, or age. If a country has no harassment laws in place,
Hospital Planning Corporation's Code of Conduct and compliance program
will provide guidance for addressing harassment situations.
Forms
of harassment include: (a) verbal harassment, such as derogatory
comments, jokes or slurs; (b) physical harassment, such as unnecessary
or offensive touching, or impeding or blocking movement; and (c) visual
harassment, such as derogatory or offensive posters, cards, calendars,
cartoons, graffiti, drawings, messages, notes or gestures.
Sexual
harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: (a)
submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of an
individual's employment; (b) submission to or rejection of such conduct
is used as the basis for employment decisions; or (c) such conduct has
the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's
work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive work
environment.
Any
employee who violates these laws or the standards and practices
described above will be subject to disciplinary action. If you believe
that harassment by a co-worker, supervisor or person doing business with
or for the company has occurred, you should notify your immediate
supervisor and/or Human Resources department. Complaints will be handled
in a confidential manner, and no individual will suffer any reprisals
for reporting any incidents of harassment or for making any complaints.
If the complaint involves an immediate supervisor, it should be directed
to the next higher level of supervision. The complaint can also be
directed to the human resources manager. Employees may also call the
Compliance Alert Line.
Harassment
complaints will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken in
accordance with the results of that investigation. Any employee, who is
found to be responsible for sexual harassment, or any other illegal
form of harassment, will be subject to appropriate discipline, up to and
including termination of employment. The severity of the disciplinary
action will be based upon the circumstances of the infraction.
Moral Turpitude
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa operates in many international
communities and values its business reputation and those of its
suppliers, partners and associates. In this regard employees,
consultants and suppliers are required to act in the best interests of
the Company and engage in no activity that is detrimental or prejudicial
to the Company its reputation or any of its businesses in the conduct
of his/her personal affairs on a continuous 24 hour daily basis for the
duration of employment or contract and conform to standards of good
citizenship and good moral character and agrees not to engage in acts of
moral turpitude.
Everything
done contrary to justice, honesty, modesty or good morals, is done with
turpitude. The solicitation or engagement of prostitutes or public
displays of inappropriate promiscuity are acts of moral turpitude as
defined by this Code of Conduct.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa employees represent many nationalities
and have diverse backgrounds and experience. We are committed to
building a work environment where all employees are treated with dignity
and respect.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa is committed to providing equal
opportunity to all qualified individuals in recruitment, compensation,
development, promotion and other employment practices. All personnel
actions and company-sponsored programs shall be administered on a
non-discriminatory basis while ensuring compliance with labour law and
nationalization requirements in each country where we operate.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa is committed to compliance with equal
employment opportunity laws. Ensuring equal employment opportunity in a
global setting can be challenging. The laws regulating equal employment
opportunity vary from country to country. Immigration and work permit
regulations and the nationalization policies of many countries may
require that persons of a particular nationality are given priority in
recruitment or promotion.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa complies with Government regulations
prohibiting discrimination against any employee or applicant for
employment because of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin,
gender, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment,
compensation, training, promotion and other employment practices.
Discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment is a
serious violation of Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa's
corporate policy and of equal employment opportunity laws in many
countries. It is the responsibility of every supervisory employee to
ensure that all employees are treated fairly.
Employees
who have questions or complaints arising under this standard can
discuss the matter with their supervisors, their human resources
managers or with other appropriate management officials. If an employee
feels unable to talk to a supervisor, human resources manager or
management official, an employee may call the Compliance Alert Line.
Conflict of Interest
"Conflict
of Interest" generally describes situations where an employee's own
interest may influence the way he or she handles company business. It
usually involves a situation where an employee or an employee's family
members can benefit personally from transactions involving the company.
While
a possible conflict between personal interests and company interests
does not always result in damage to the company, its very existence
creates an inappropriate condition. Even the appearance of a conflict of
interest should be avoided. It is not possible to describe all
instances where a conflict of interest could occur. However, the
guidelines following help define a potential conflict of interest.
A
conflict of interest can exist when an employee or family member has a
direct or indirect financial interest in, or receives any compensation
or other benefit from, any individual or firm that:
• sells material, equipment or property to the company;
• renders any service to the company;
• has contractual relations or business dealings with the company, including leases and purchases; or
• competes with or engages in a similar business as that of the company.
A
conflict of interest may also exist when an employee uses company
equipment, personnel or facilities for personal gain. Financial
interests in businesses do not include ownership of stock in
corporations listed on a stock exchange, provided that the financial
interest does not exceed one percent of the corporation's outstanding
shares.
Company
business must be conducted solely on the basis of merit and open
competition. Employees must refrain from actions that might impair their
independent judgment or provide an unfair advantage to a contractor.
The following illustrates some of the kinds of activities employees
should avoid:
Loans
Employees should not borrow from the company's customers or from individuals or firms with which the company does business.
Gifts and gratuities
Employees
should not solicit gifts, services, benefits or hospitality from
customers or suppliers. In addition, employees should not accept gifts,
services, benefits or hospitality from customers and suppliers that
might influence or appear to influence the employee's conduct in
representing the company. Gifts and entertainment may be exchanged at a
level that does not exceed customary courtesies extended in accordance
with ethical business practices.
The
Human Resource Department of Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa
shall provide gift and entertainment guidelines for general guidance.
Check with your supervisor for further explanation of what constitutes
inappropriate gifts and entertainment in your specific area of
operations.
Information
Employees should not disclose or use for their own benefit, or the
benefit of anyone other than the company, information that is not known
to the general public. Such information includes reports, internal
memoranda, technical data, financial data, operating data and other
information regarding the company's business and operational activities
and future plans.
Payments
Employees
should not make illegal, questionable or unauthorized payments of money
or other forms of payment including property to anyone.
Employment
Employees
should not perform work or render services for an organization that
competes with the company or a company with which Hospital Planning
Corporation West Africa does business without appropriate approval from
management.
If you or a family member is engaged in activities that
create or even appear to create a conflict of interest, you must
immediately provide all pertinent information to your supervisor. The
supervisor will then send the information to the Compliance Alert Line
for concurrence or additional guidance on how to address the conflict
appropriately.
Confidential Information
Confidential
information may include various kinds of information, but certainly
includes internal, confidential, proprietary or secret information
related to Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa’s business. Most of
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa's technology and much of our
other know-how and experience are protected as trade secrets. Such trade
secrets are valuable assets. Other examples of confidential information
include processes, computer passwords and software, product
formulations, business forecasts, plans and strategies, and information
concerning our operations, customers and vendors.
Confidential
information may also be received from other companies or individuals in
the course of Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa's business.
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa employees must not disclose
confidential information to anyone outside of the Company without
specific authorization. Unauthorized disclosures (sometimes called
"theft" or "misappropriation") may result in a loss of the value of the
trade secrets and may constitute a crime or amount to a breach of
contract.
Selected
human resource and personnel information must be kept strictly
confidential and used only for the purpose for which it is intended.
Accordingly,
no employee is to disclose any confidential information about Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa or others without authorization. This
applies both during employment and afterwards.
Corrupt Practices
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa strives to deal with all of its
customers, suppliers and government agencies in a straightforward and
aboveboard manner and in strict compliance with the requirements of the
international anti-bribery conventions and local anti-corruption and
bribery laws.
Employees
are prohibited from paying any bribe, kickback or other similar
unlawful payment to any public official, or government, or other
individual, regardless of nationality, to secure any concession,
contract or improper advantage for Hospital Planning Corporation West
Africa or the employee.
Certain
nominal payments to public or government officials may be allowable if
they are in compliance with local laws, and are in the nature of
facilitating or expediting payment that is made to secure the
performance of a "routine governmental action." Routine governmental
action is usually of a ministerial nature and commonly performed by a
public official. This does not include any decision by a public official
to award new business or continue business with a particular party. The
factual circumstances of each case, and the applicable laws that may
vary from country to country, will determine the legality or illegality
of such payments.
Therefore,
you must not make any such payment until you receive the express prior
approval of your supervisor and the Company’s legal counsel to ensure
legal compliance.
No
undisclosed or unrecorded fund or asset of Hospital Planning
Corporation West Africa may be established. Payments on behalf of
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa can be made only on the basis
of adequate supporting documentation, may be made only for the purpose
described by the documents supporting the payment, and must be made in
accordance with appropriate corporate accounting procedures.
Agreements
with Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa's representatives and
partners who engage in activities on behalf of, or together with,
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa, that may involve governments
or government officials, must be in writing. It is advisable to do
background checks on foreign agents and representatives. The Company’s
legal counsel for compliance must review agreements with such
representatives in advance.
Any
questions or doubts about the propriety of a proposed course of action
should be discussed with the Company’s legal counsel before taking the
action in question. Any suspected violations of this Code of Conduct,
Corrupt Practices or local law must be reported promptly to the
Company’s legal counsel
We
expect that decisions of government officials, customers and suppliers
of Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa will always be based on the
merits of a particular project. Hospital Planning Corporation West
Africa and its employees should always advocate their understanding of
what those merits might be, but such advocacy must always be able to
withstand full public scrutiny.
Patents & Intellectual Property
Corporate
assets include not only tangible and real property but also
intellectual property, (or IP) IP is proprietary business or technical
information of value protected by patent, trademark, copyright or trade
secret laws. It is in Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa's
interest to protect and maintain its IP, do nothing to jeopardize its
value, and thus be positioned for maximum return for its use or
purchase. Senior management has the ultimate responsibility for IP
issues arising from matters under its control.
Before
any Company project or subsidiary undertakes a course of action
involving the intellectual property of Hospital Planning Corporation
West Africa or another company, the Company’s legal counsel should
review the proposed course of action. This procedure is mandatory for
matters pertaining to inventions, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade
secrets and to contracts involving:
• a license, sale, purchase or disclosure of proprietary information;
•
software development of any kind, or a software purchase or license
costing more than $10,000 per copy or $50,000 in the aggregate;
• confidentiality of technical or business information;
•
consulting or service arrangements where the development of new
technical information or the divulging of proprietary information can be
foreseen;
• joint venture relationships where the development of new or improved technology is expected; or
• research work, development or programs.
Just
as the company regards its patents, trade secrets, trademarks and
copyrights as valuable corporate assets, we must respect the valid IP
rights of other companies and persons. When the Company desires to
receive, use, or purchase the IP of another party, the legitimate bounds
of such property should be identified and appropriate legal counsel
obtained for any proposed course of action. The company will not
knowingly infringe on others' patents, trademarks or copyrights, or
misappropriate others' trade secrets, or the like. Procedures for the
proper licensing or other permitted use of these assets as set forth
herein must be followed by all employees. Of particular importance to
day-to-day operations, and something that must be avoided by each
employee, is the unauthorized copying of magazine and journal articles,
books, computer software or any other copyrighted material. For further
information regarding IP issues, please refer to the Company’s legal
counsel.
Making the System Work
ALL EMPLOYEES of
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa and its wholly owned
subsidiaries are expected to follow this Code of Conduct in their
day-to-day activities. This includes taking the required training, being
sensitive to situations that could lead to illegal or unethical actions
and avoiding or preventing such behavior.
SUPERVISORS are
responsible for maintaining a work environment that encourages
compliance and open communication regarding legal and ethical problems
and concerns. Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa shall provide
supervisors and managers with standards and practices to ensure
compliance with Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa’s corporate
policies and guiding principles.
Human
Resource shall establish systems to train managers to meet their
responsibilities under those requirements and monitor their own areas
for compliance.
THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM shall regularly review compliance policies and guidelines, receive and
respond to compliance alerts, and assess goals and performance. The
Senior Management Team will ensure that appropriate compliance standards
are included in standard operating practices and that those standards
are properly implemented.
HUMAN RESOURCES REPRESENTATIVES are responsible for providing a copy of this Code of Conduct to new
employees, and for ensuring that new employees receive the required
compliance training.
THE PROJECT AND CORPORATE CONTROLLERS OFFICES are responsible for protecting company assets, keeping accurate and
detailed records and making full and proper financial disclosures.
THE COMPANY’S LEGAL COUNSEL is responsible for advising the company and employees about Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa's Code of Conduct and corporate
policies, and directing investigations of any suspected violations.
CORPORATE AUDIT SERVICES appraises compliance through the examination and evaluation of company
activities. This includes monitoring health, environment and safety
(HES) compliance, as well as compliance with other operational
guidelines. Auditors from the financial, information technology and HES
groups will provide audit services. Auditors are also responsible for
providing a direct, confidential channel of communication regarding
financial concerns that is independent of normal organizational
channels. In this role, the Auditor reports directly to the Chief
Executive Officer.
PARTNERS, CONTRACTORS AND SUPPLIERS are expected to comply with all applicable laws and Hospital Planning
Corporation West Africa's high ethical standards. The Company will seek
partners whose policies are consistent with our own.
Compliance with
Hospital Planning Corporation West Africa's Code of Conduct is a
condition of employment. Failure to comply may result in a range of
disciplinary actions, including dismissal. Failure by any employee to
disclose violations of these standards and practices by other Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa employees or contract workers is also
grounds for disciplinary action
Compliance Program
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa shall establish an effective corporate
compliance program that combines oversight and leadership with robust
implementation systems.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa's standard operating practices
incorporates compliance elements and standards that are implemented at
all levels of the company. The Senior Management Team shall meet
regularly to review compliance policies and procedures and to assess
compliance goals and performance. The Senior Management Team shall
ensure that appropriate compliance standards are included, and that
standard operating practices are properly implemented.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa shall use its Code of Conduct, the
Company Compliance Alert Line, audits, investigations, reviews and
performance appraisals to ensure that the Company compliance program is
effectively implemented.
This
Code of Conduct will also continue to be reviewed regularly, with any
updates made available to employees, as well as shared with our external
stakeholders.
Employees
shall have several resources available to assist them with compliance
questions and concerns. The employee will be able to freely discuss this
matter with their immediate supervisor. If the employee prefers, the
individual can consult with the Human
Resources department, Auditor, member of the Senior Management Team or the Compliance Alert Line.
If
the employee should feel uncomfortable consulting a supervisor or any
of the corporate support groups, the employee can call the Company's
Compliance Alert Line to report any violation of the law or Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa's policies.
The
Compliance Alert Line is a telephone answering message system available
24 hours a day, every day. Employees who call the Compliance Alert Line
do not have to identify themselves but must leave sufficient detailed
information to enable a proper review to be conducted. Employee
anonymity is strictly protected.
Hospital
Planning Corporation West Africa will not discharge, demote, suspend,
threaten, harass or in any manner discriminate against any employee in
the terms and conditions of employment based upon any lawful actions of
such employee with respect to good faith reporting of complaints.