Basic principles
Intercongress GmbH is committed to legally compliant and socially responsible corporate governance. We comply with the applicable laws and other legal regulations of the countries in which we operate and thus behave in a legally compliant manner. We regard compliance with the laws applicable in the respective country as a minimum requirement. In certain countries, we may lay down principles of corporate practice that go beyond the respective national regulations. For Intercongress GmbH, compliance not only means legal conformity, but also includes ethical values such as integrity, fairness and sustainability, which we live out transparently both internally and externally. These Guidelines Corporate Ethics set binding framework conditions for our activities and define the ethical behaviour of our employees. It can be supplemented by other national or company-wide guidelines.
1. Conflicts of interest
We ensure that our own interests do not conflict with the interests of the company. A conflict of interest arises when one’s own interests conflict with those of the company. Intercongress GmbH respects the private interests and activities of each and every employee, whereby they are fully loyal to the company. In fulfilling their professional obligations, our employees are guided only by the interests of the company and avoid activities that run counter to business interests or the fulfillment of these obligations. They therefore do not misuse their position, company information or property at Intercongress GmbH for personal purposes or inappropriate advantages of third parties. To avoid the risk of conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest, our employees disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest to their supervisor, who will decide how to handle the conflict of interest.
2. Property of the company
We protect the Company’s property, assets and business opportunities.
The company’s property and assets, such as know-how, brands and work equipment, represent value created by our employees through decades of work and form the basis of our entrepreneurial activities. To ensure our business success and the sustainable development of the company, all Intercongress employees must safeguard and protect the company’s property and assets.
3. Protection of confidential information
We protect the business secrets of our company through confidentiality and also oblige our business partners to maintain confidentiality when we disclose business secrets to them.
We protect our employees’ data from unauthorized access and handle it with care in accordance with the applicable rules. Data and information held by Intercongress GmbH are of great value to our company. We therefore protect these business secrets. These business secrets are the result of our investments. Documents and (digital) data carriers containing business secrets must be stored in such a way that they are not accessible to unauthorized persons. We protect confidential and personal data through appropriate organizational and procedural measures, in particular against unauthorized collection, use and processing.
4. Equal opportunities and fair working conditions
We respect diversity in all business or employee-related decisions and avoid unequal treatment and discrimination on the grounds of age or appearance, ethnic origin, gender, religion or belief, disability or sexual identity as well as any other characteristics protected by law. Intercongress GmbH acknowledges its responsibility to respect and promote human rights. We respect the applicable core labour standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) in our business activities. Intercongress GmbH wants to benefit from cultural diversity. Diversity and equal opportunities are part of our corporate philosophy and an element of our success. In particular, the diversity of our employees is one of our greatest strengths, which makes us an attractive company for employees. We want to attract and retain the best employees and therefore offer a wide range of entry and promotion opportunities as part of our personnel development program. In addition, we want to create an atmosphere that takes into account the legitimate needs of all employees and customers, regardless of where we do business.
5. Environmental protection
We see sustainable business practices with regard to natural resources as a contribution to environmental protection for present and future generations. Compliance with all environmental protection regulations and respect for the environment oblige us to treat nature’s limited resources with care in order to ensure the company’s success based on sustainability. A commitment to environmental protection and the economical use of energy are an integral part of our activities.
6. Occupational safety
The establishment of a safe workplace environment for all employees is a matter of course for us. At Intercongress GmbH, occupational safety is achieved for all business areas through the exemplary role and willingness of employees to take responsibility.
Our supervisors ensure that our employees are comprehensively trained in occupational health and safety measures and thus guarantee compliance with the relevant occupational health and safety regulations. The misuse of addictive substances, intimidation, violence and harassment are reported immediately to line managers and appropriate measures are taken. Our occupational health and safety management guarantees the implementation of our high standards.
7. Avoidance of corruption
We are committed to maintaining the highest standards in our global business activities. We do not grant or accept any unlawful, unauthorized benefits.
The healthcare industry is highly regulated and misconduct can have far-reaching consequences. At Intercongress GmbH, we therefore adhere to integrity and fairness in all our business activities. Every employee is obliged to refrain from any corrupt behaviour. They must therefore not offer, provide or authorize the provision of improper benefits to third parties or accept such improper benefits themselves. This includes money, goods or services as well as other unauthorized advantages. This obligation extends to all business activities, including those of our business partners and other parties acting on our behalf. Benefits are to be granted and accepted exclusively in accordance with the statutory provisions and Intercongress GmbH’s benefit rules, taking into account the benefit principles (separation principle, documentation principle, transparency principle, equivalence principle) – see “Intercongress GmbH Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy”. No transaction, however favourable, justifies a violation of the law.
8. Fair competition
We achieve our business success through outstanding performance and fair and honest competitive behaviour and not through unethical or illegal business practices. This also includes all national and international export and embargo regulations. Intercongress GmbH is committed to fair conduct towards customers, competitors, patients, authorities and employees. It accepts free competition and faces up to the resulting challenges in a fair and open manner. We trust in the persuasive power of the quality of our products and services and therefore strictly reject unfair and anticompetitive market influences, in particular concerted practices with partner companies to impair free competition. As a company operating throughout Europe, Intercongress GmbH complies with all legal regulations in the countries in which we do business, as well as international obligations. We also observe trade restrictions that some countries, including the United Nations, have imposed. To combat organized crime and the financing of terrorism, Intercongress GmbH undertakes to comply with the necessary measures to conduct business only with legally compliant partner companies.
9. Sharing expertise
For us, “Sharing Expertise” means promising to comprehensively share, effectively use and consistently expand medical knowledge and health expertise in dialog with our customers and partner companies.
For our employees, this claim means contributing their own expertise and constantly developing it further. Externally, the continuous and compliant exchange with our partner companies ensures that we recognize the needs of medicine in order to
improve the quality of life of patients together with doctors and specialists.
10. Organization and procedures
The management of Intercongress GmbH is obliged to set up, implement and further develop a compliance programme in accordance with the rules and regulations that apply to it. This includes the appointment of a compliance officer, the distribution and training of the Intercongress Guidelines Corporate Ethics, the regular review of compliance activities including recurring compliance reports and the establishment of information and communication options that enable employees to report a possible violation of these Guidelines Corporate Ethics or a violation of the law. This requires strict compliance with legal regulations and other standards and guidelines on a complex scale. Non-compliance can result in considerable sanctions as well as reputational damage. These can be imposed on the company, the management or the employees themselves. Compliance with the provisions of these Guidelines Corporate Ethics should help to avoid legal violations and contribute to ensuring that we conduct our business fairly and in accordance with the law. All employees of Intercongress GmbH must report any possible infringement or other violation of the law. Appropriate communication channels have been set up and are managed by our compliance officers. We are committed to carefully reviewing all reports and, where necessary, taking corrective action. Intercongress GmbH undertakes to avoid any disadvantage to an employee who reports a possible violation in good faith.
