Code of Conduct

"At Noitso, our reputation is built on honesty and trust. Our success relies on the confidence our stakeholders have in us. Each and every one of us has a critical role in building and maintaining this trust. 
 

"This Code of Conduct (the “Code”) describes the way we aspire to work at Noitso and guides us in our business relationships. It contains our mission and values and sets the standards for how we should behave and how we should make decisions. The Code helps us to build long term relationships with our customers, authorities, business partners, colleagues and other stakeholders. The Code does not address all situations that may arise. It describes general principles, rather than a complete set of detailed rules that cover all situations. 
 

"The principles address our commitment to the highest ethical standards, to obeying the law, and to our firm intolerance for all forms of corruption. It is essential that you understand the Code, which is why we also provide concrete examples of conflicts you might face and how we expect you to approach them. Please take the time to read this guide."

- Carlo Chow and Mohamed Azzouzi

We have 4 essential principles in the Noitso Code of Conduct:

1) Know our mission & values 

2) Take good care of people

3) Protect Noitso and yourself against corruption

4) Protect confidential information

As you read the Code, you may have questions or be unsure whether something is acceptable or not. If this is the case, please:

1) Talk to your manager, or 

2) Contact Carlo Chow, CEO

1) Know our mission and values

Our mission is WHY we exist:

We empower organisations to make knowledgeable decisions, by convertering data into actionable insights

Our values are WHAT is most important to us. Both our mission and values are the foundation of our Code of Conduct, and we expect every Noitso employee to align with this: “What we promise is what we do.”

2) Take good care of people

Discrimination is when people are treated unfairly based on the group, class, or community they belong to. Noitso is an employer that belives and practices non-biased equal opportunities. 

No matter which culture or country you come from or work in, as a Noitso employee, you should NEVER discriminate against any other person based on their:

- Gender or gender expression
- Race
- Colour
- Religion or creed
- Age
- National origin or ancestry
- Mental or physical disability
- Marital status
- Sexual orientation
- Social status
- Political affiliation
- Decision to join – or not join, a union

If you experience or witness any form of discrimination, please speak up as soon as possible. These are the best practices we believe in:

Be inclusive. We welcome and support people of all backgrounds and identities. This includes, but is not limited to members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, social and economic class, educational level, color, immigration status, sex, age, size, family status, political belief, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and mental and physical ability.

Be considerate. We all depend on each other to produce the best work we can as a company. Your decisions will affect customers and colleagues, and you should take those consequences into account when making decisions. 

Be respectful. Disagreements are unavoidable but it is no excuse for disrespectful behavior. We will all experience frustration from time to time, but we cannot allow that frustration to become personal attacks. An working environment where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is never a productive nor a creative one.

Choose your words carefully. Always conduct yourself professionally. Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down others. Harassment and exclusionary behavior is not acceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Threats of violence
- Discriminatory jokes and language. Sharing sexually explicit or violent material via electronic devices or other means.
- Personal insults, especially those using racist or sexist terms.
- Unwelcome sexual attention.
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

Repeated harassment of others is never acceptable. In general, if someone asks you to stop something, then stop. When we disagree, try to understand why. Differences of opinion and disagreements are mostly unavoidable. What is important is that we resolve disagreements and differing views constructively.

Our differences can be our strengths. We can find strength in diversity. Different people have different perspectives on issues, and that can be valuable for solving problems or generating new ideas. Being unable to understand why someone holds a viewpoint doesn’t mean that they’re wrong. Don’t forget that we all make mistakes, and blaming each other doesn’t get us anywhere. Instead, focus on resolving issues and learning from mistakes.

3) Human rights

Noitso is committed to protecting human rights – but what does that mean? Human rights relate to many things, including discrimination and working environment as well as our promises to: 

- Support and care for employees; offer fair salary and working hours
- Continually assess the impact of our operations on these rights. If actual or potential negative impact is discovered, we will proactively address the issue(s). Protecting and enforcing your human rights is an essential part of what it means to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. 

If you see any issues of concern, please speak up.

Examples related to human rights

4) Protect Noitso and yourself against corruption

Act ethically and with integrity. Most people strive to be honest and responsible. No one thinks of themselves as unethical or corrupt. But sometimes we may not realize that an act will hurt our integrity or ability to remain objective. An ethical person behaves in ways that are moral – they are truthful, fair, and honest.

At Noitso, we act with the highest ethical standards in all of our relationships and dealings and will never accept, or excuse, behaviour which is inconsistent with our values and Code of Conduct. Our policy is to comply fully with relevant laws, regulatory requirements and applicable codes in Denmark where we do business. Sometimes our Code is more stringent even than this, requiring us to conduct our business affairs to the highest ethical standards and consistently demonstrate integrity. As a Noitso employee, every decision you make should be fair and in the best interest of our company.

Noitso has zero tolerance for corruption. Accepting or giving inappropriate gifts, personal benefits, bribes, or ‘grease’ payments are behaviors that might influence an employee’s ability to make objective decisions. In some places, these have become habit or are considered normal business practice, but they are a form of corruption and not acceptable behavior for Noitso employees. If you are offered or asked to pay a fee or gift that may be considered inappropriate, refuse, and report the incident to your manager or the CEO of Noitso.

Examples of corruption

Conflicts of interest 

You should not use your position, role, or corporate information to seek direct or indirect benefits for yourself, your relatives, friend, or other third parties unless explicitly outlined in your contract.

❗️ IMPORTANT: Having a conflict of interest does not mean that you have done anything wrong. Just discuss it openly with your manager so that, together, you can come up with a plan of action to protect yourself and Noitso at the same time.

Example: Your uncle is applying for a job on your team. The personal nature of your relationship means your evaluation of his qualifications may not be entirely objective.

Never accept or pay bribes, facilitation or ‘grease’ payments 

Paying under-the-table fees for favors or expedition of processes is unacceptable behavior. This is corruption and Noitso employees should stay away from all form of bribes. 

❗️ IMPORTANT: Facilitation payments may only be made under extraordinary circumstances where they are the only way to prevent the loss of life, limb, or liberty. You must immediately inform your manager if you encounter this situation.

Example: Paying customs authorities to minimize delays or paying a policeman to pass on a road are forms of ‘grease’ payments – a type of bribe.

Inappropriate gifts 

It is critical that you do not accept travel, entertainment, gifts, or personal benefits that will in any way influence your ability to make objective decisions that are in the best interest of Noitso. 

❗️ IMPORTANT: It can be tough to know when it’s okay to accept a gift. If you are in doubt, be on the safe side and talk to your manager about the situation.

Political contributions 

Noitso is neutral in politics. We don’t support or make contributions (financial or in-kind) to any political party or candidate. It’s okay to perform lobbying as a part of your work duties on behalf of Noitso. It’s okay for you to participate in political activities as a private person, but do not use your corporate email or other corporate communication platforms to make political statements.

Examples related to corruption

4) Protect confidential information

Our success depends on protecting confidential information about customers and their solutions.

Trade secrets are valuable information about a company that gives them an advantage over competitors. They can be information about technology, finance, sales, operations, intellectual property, know-how, or potential mergers and acquisitions. Confidential information such as trade secrets and the personal data of employees, customers, suppliers, and business partners should not be disclosed to third parties or used in ways that violate General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Examples related to confidential information