Purpose:
At Indian Press, we are committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in every facet of our operations. This policy is designed to ensure that all team members conduct themselves with integrity, follow all applicable laws and regulations, and avoid actions driven by personal gain.
Gifts, Favors, and Payments
- Providing Gifts and Payments:
Any gifts, favors, or payments offered by Indian Press must align with standard business practices, be of modest value, comply with the law, and avoid causing embarrassment to the organization if publicly disclosed. - Compensation Without Contracts:
The payment of commissions, compensations, or other financial benefits to customer associates without a formal written contract is strictly against company policy.
Receiving Gifts, Favors, Entertainment, and Payments
- Accepting Gifts and Entertainment:
Employees should not solicit or accept gifts, favors, entertainment, or financial benefits unless they serve a legitimate business purpose. This is especially critical when dealing with individuals or organizations either doing or seeking to do business with Indian Press. - Exceptions:
Common business courtesies and gifts of nominal value are acceptable within reason. However, any such interactions with suppliers or potential business partners must be carefully evaluated against company standards.
Conflicts of Interest
- Avoiding Conflicts:
Employees must avoid any situations where personal interests may conflict with the interests of the Indian Press. Any such conflict should be disclosed to the employee’s manager immediately. - Examples:
Potential conflicts include ownership stakes in external companies that do business with or compete against Indian Press, holding positions with competitors, or any circumstances that might undermine the company’s interests.
Confidential Information
- Protection of Confidentiality:
Employees are prohibited from unauthorized disclosure or misuse of confidential company information. Such actions will result in disciplinary measures, including possible termination.
Compliance
- Adherence to Policy:
Any violations of this ethical code will result in disciplinary actions, including termination. Employees must report any policy violations they become aware of to the appropriate authority.
Social Media Guidelines
Introduction:
Social media posts are effectively public statements with long-lasting impact. Employees of Indian Press must exercise caution and good judgment when making any online statements, ensuring full compliance with company policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.
Be Mindful of What You Post
- Responsibility for Content:
Employees are personally accountable for their online behavior. Any inappropriate content can result in disciplinary action, including termination. - Personal Viewpoints:
When posting personal opinions that reference Indian Press, it must be made clear that these views are personal and not reflective of the company’s official stance. - Maintain Professionalism and Respect
- Conduct Online:
Employees are expected to maintain professionalism, courtesy, and respect in all online communications. Posts should not be offensive, threatening, or harassing, and must respect others’ privacy. - Accuracy and Honesty:
Posts must be accurate, and any mistakes should be swiftly corrected. If changes are made to previous posts, employees must be transparent about the alterations. - Respect Legal and Confidentiality Standards
- Legal Compliance:
All employees must comply with copyright laws, privacy policies, and other legal obligations. Confidential company information should never be disclosed without proper authorization. - Reporting Concerns
- Raising Concerns:
Employees are encouraged to report any potential violations of this policy to Human Resources. Indian Press strictly prohibits any form of retaliation against whistleblowers. - Plagiarism and Fair Reporting
- Zero Tolerance for Plagiarism:
Indian Press maintains a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism. Reporters and content creators must ensure that all parties in a story are given a fair opportunity to respond and that content is free from bias or manipulation. - This policy ensures that Indian Press operates with the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and ethical conduct, both internally and externally.
