In accordance with its Mission Statement, “We at Merck do what we say and then measure ourselves on this basis,” Merck relies on a common set of values: courage, achievement, responsibility, respect, integrity and transparency. Based on a corporate culture that places the fundamental company values at the center of our entrepreneurial actions, the Code of Conduct helps those involved in the business process to implement the values when dealing with one another on a daily basis. Merck has created the Code of Conduct as a set of rules and regulations intended to help Merck employees to act responsibly and to make the right decisions in their daily work. The Code of Conduct explains the principles for dealings with business associates, general partners, colleagues and employees, and in the communities in which we operate. Thus, it supports all employees in acting ethically – not only in their dealings with one another, but also outside the company. The Code of Conduct is thus the main set of rules for our compliance program.
Merck has striven throughout the centuries to follow ethical principles and values. All employees shall be treated fairly and in compliance with local laws and regulations. Merck has defined the principles for this in a social charter.
To Merck, compliance means observing legal and company-internal regulations and the basic ethical principles anchored in the company values. With the Code of Conduct and the various unit-specific compliance rules, the values are integrated into daily work and business practice. The Code of Conduct is binding on all employees, both at headquarters as well as the subsidiaries abroad. The Compliance Office monitors observance of the Code of Conduct with support from corresponding auditing and training programs throughout the Group. All employees are called upon to report compliance violations to their supervisor, Legal, HR or other relevant departments.
Merck created the position of Group Compliance Officer in 2002. This employee is responsible for setting up, maintaining and further developing our global compliance program. By taking appropriate measures, he/she helps to lower the risk of serious legal violations, of for instance antitrust law and anticorruption rules. The role of the Group Compliance Officer is reflected in the subsidiaries by the approximately 80 local compliance officers, who ensure that compliance measures are implemented in the countries. This Group-wide network is used to steer the global compliance program. Regular regional and global compliance meetings are held to promote the exchange of information within the network. Newcomer training seminars were introduced in 2010 for newly appointed compliance officers. These seminars serve to build up compliance expertise and strengthen teambuilding within the compliance organization.
A high degree of importance is attached to regular compliance seminars, which are conducted as on-site events, as well as via web-based training courses. By presenting various training topics on corruption, antitrust and competition law, health care compliance and the Code of Conduct, they serve to sensitize employees and management to the consequences of compliance violations and to show ways to avoid them.
By setting up a central speak-up line, employees can report compliance violations by telephone or via a web-based application in their respective national language. The speak-up line is available free of charge and around the clock. Mutual communication is also possible anonymously based on case numbers.
The reports received are individually reviewed. If a compliance violation exists, corresponding corrective action is taken based on concrete action plans. If necessary, disciplinary measures are taken. These range from a simple warning up to the dismissal of the employee who violated a compliance rule.
In cooperation with Internal Auditing, the Compliance Office regularly reviews the implementation of Group-wide compliance measures at the subsidiaries. The audits regularly focus on the local compliance structure, the compliance measures taken, as well as the existence of corresponding compliance guidelines and processes.
The Compliance function reports regularly to the Executive Board, informing it of the status of compliance activities, compliance risks as well as serious compliance violations. The Executive Board informs the supervisory bodies at least once a year about the key compliance issues.
Risk and opportunity management
The Executive Board, the Supervisory Board and the Finance Committee are regularly informed about the risk portfolio of the Group and the individual companies. More detailed information can be found in the Risk report on page 86 et seq.
Avoidance of conflicts of interest
Within the framework of their work, all Executive Board members and Supervisory Board members Merck KGaA are exclusively committed to the interests of the company and pursue neither personal interests nor grant unjustified advantages to third parties.
Before an Executive Board member takes on honorary offices, board positions or other sideline activities, this must be approved by the Personnel Committee of the Board of Partners of E. Merck KG.
The Chairman of the Executive Board, Dr. Karl-Ludwig Kley, and the Chief Financial Officer, Dr. Michael Becker, are both members of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG. This does not, however, lead to conflicts of interest.
In its report to the General Meeting, the Supervisory Board discloses any conflicts of interest involving its members and how they were dealt with. Consultancy agreements as well other service and work contracts of a Supervisory Board member with Merck require the approval of the Supervisory Board. In fiscal 2010, there were neither conflicts of interest nor consultancy agreements or other service or work contracts with Merck involving Supervisory Board members.
Adherence to labor and social standards
Merck has set itself high social standards in the Merck Social Charter.
At Merck, closed-loop thinking guides the way in which we address environmental concerns and environmental protection issues. To this end, we integrate precautionary measures into our planning processes. Our Environment, Health and Safety Policy with its principles and strategies implements the guidelines formulated by the national and international associations of the chemical industry in the Responsible Care® guidelines. The Responsible Care® Global Charter developed by the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) in 2006 puts even more emphasis than before on overall responsibility for products, supply chains and the community. Merck signed this expanded version of Responsible Care® for the entire Group in February 2007.
Many guidelines specify how the sites and employees of the Merck Group are to observe the principles in their daily work. The Group function Environment, Health, Safety, Security & Quality steers these global activities and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, standards and business needs throughout the entire company. In this way, Group-wide risks are minimized and continuous improvement is promoted in the areas of Environment, Health, Safety, Security & Quality. Corporate Responsibility reports are also published at regular intervals.