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Values and behaviours
We are committed to conducting business
with integrity and fairness, with respect for
people, the law and our values described in
our manifesto 'We are HEINEKEN'.
Conducting business with integrity
Speak Up
Celebrating a week of integrity
1 A 5^ Heineken N.V.
14Ö Annual Report 2020
Introduction
Report of the
Executive Board
Report of the
Supervisory Board
Financial
Statements
Sustainability Other
Review Information
The HEINEKEN Code of Business Conduct sets out the
basic principles every employee must observe when
acting for, or on behalf of, HEINEKEN.
Associated policies give further guidance on specific
topics outlined in the Code. The Code and Policies are
available in 40+ languages to ensure all employees
across the globe are able to read and understand them.
We provide regular communications and training to
ensure awareness, understanding and adherence to
our Code and Policies. The annual Code of Business
Conduct training exposes participants to practical
business conduct dilemmas. In 2020, over 60,000
employees completed this training.
As a multinational company operating in more than
70 countries, we pay special attention to potential
exposure to bribery and corruption. HEINEKEN's
principle is never to engage in bribery, in any
place, at any time. Our anti-bribery framework
aims to prevent, detect and respond to bribery and
corruption threats. The framework includes risk-
based third-party due diligence and training.
Anti-bribery e-learning equips employees to recognise
and deal with potential bribery challenges they
may encounter during the course of their work.
The three training modules are mandatory for
employees across key functions. By the end of 2020,
over 25,000 employees had completed one or more
training modules.
Robust internal controls ensure we keep reasonable
and proportionate oversight of activities related to
the implementation and effectiveness of our Code of
Business Conduct framework.
Transparency and trust are crucial to our culture and
values. We actively encourage everyone to Speak Up
about any concerns they may have, particularly in
relation to suspected misconduct.
Multiple Speak Up channels are available to enable
employees and external parties to quickly and easily
raise questions and concerns, in confidence and
without fear of retaliation. They include Trusted
Representatives and a Speak Up service (telephone
and online), run by an independent third-party and
available 24/7, 365 days a year.
In 2020, we received 1,469 reports of suspected
misconduct through Speak Up (2019: 1,699).
These reports concerned allegations of fraud (27%),
discrimination and harassment (24%), conflicts of
interest (9%) and other issues (40%).
Nearly 40% of Speak Up reports were substantiated
and corrective and preventative actions were taken
where relevant. Actions included process and
control improvements and disciplinary measures,
as appropriate.
We aim to continuously improve our responsible
business conduct framework and embed a culture
of integrity in our company. Integrity guides us to
do the right thing, and it is key for the long-term
success of HEINEKEN.
This year we organised a Week of Integrity, built
around UN International Anti-Corruption Day and
International Human Rights Day.
The purpose of the initiative was to raise
awareness of the importance of integrity and
ethical behaviour and show that integrity is a
shared responsibility.
Through various communications, our senior
leaders explained what integrity means to them
and emphasised the importance of living
by our values and adhering to our Code of
Business Conduct.
Employees were encouraged to openly discuss
dilemmas and challenges and Speak Up about
possible violations of our Code of Business Conduct.
This is key to foster a culture of transparency and
trust and allow HEINEKEN to respond to potential
misconduct in a timely way.
Learn more about this topic on our website
