5.4 Create value responsibly
Edenred is committed to creating value by developing its activities and partnerships ethically throughout its value chain, ensuring IT security and data protection while meeting the expectations of its stakeholders and involving them in the digitalization of its solutions.
5.4.1 Ethically developing activities and partnerships throughout the value chain
5.4.1.1 Priority issue: business ethics
As an intermediation platform, Edenred is the everyday companion for people at work. It is therefore Edenred’s duty to act as a trusted partner, especially when it is working with governments and institutions. Upholding fair business practices, such as ethical performance throughout its value chain, is crucial to its success. The Group’s practices also include combating corruption and money laundering and complying with competition law in an industry in which it is a leader.
Fair practices
Charter of Ethics
Edenred’s main ethical principles are presented in its Charter of Ethics , available on the corporate website. In 2021, a new version was drawn up and communicated to all the Group’s employees. The updated version reinforces the standards of behavior expected within the Company and applies to all employees as well as suppliers. It is designed as a guide to help with decision-making and also provides links to key internal policies, processes and training modules. These new guidelines are structured around six major themes, including values, business conduct, human rights, the environment and local community development. In addition, the electronic signature and follow-up process has been integrated into the employee integration process via the Edenpeople platform.
By end-2021, a total of 97% of employees had acknowledged the new charter via a process integrated into the HRIS. Moreover, the majority of subsidiaries had introduced a clause requiring work contracts to comply with the charter.
Preventing corruption and money laundering
In 2019, based on the updated risk map of corruption scenarios, the Group Compliance Department revised the best practices guide aimed at avoiding and fighting against corruption in all countries in which the Group operates, in compliance with France’s Sapin II Act concerning transparency, the fight against corruption and modernization of the economy. Available in several languages, the guide was supplemented with the launch of an online training module on corruption risks for all employees and strengthened anti-corruption processes. At the same time, the whistleblowing procedure was reviewed to enable reporting of any suspected case of bribery or corruption.
The Group Compliance Department is notably tasked with helping subsidiaries to ensure compliance with the laws and regulations designed to combat organized crime, money-laundering and/or the financing of terrorism.
(1) View the Charter of Ethics: https://www.edenred.com/sites/default/files/pdf/edenred_charter_of_ethics_uk.pdf
