Compliant and open activities

Hansel’s compliance function was established during a large development project in 2019, in which Hansel’s main risks related to ethical operation were identified, ethical instructions and work-related instructions were updated, and missing instructions and business principles were drawn up. The instructions were compiled on the intranet, and an anonymous whistleblowing channel was introduced.

The compliance officer was entrusted with managing the compliance function, and a team was formed with representatives of legal matters, category management, and HR to support the compliance officer. All employees were trained, and the matters required by the function were discussed at unit meetings. An external auditor performed an internal audit of the development project and its results.

In 2020, the compliance team did not receive any whistleblowing reports. Themes related to ethical operation were maintained in personnel events and internal communications, for example. The team members also participated in different training events and followed social debate on themes related to ethical operation. The organisation of the compliance function was discussed more profoundly with certain government service providers.

In September, a three-hour training session was organised for the whole personnel, led by Niina Ratsula from Code of Conduct Company. The training’s topic was “Building a compliance culture: Everyday activities compliant with ethics and requirements”. A personnel questionnaire on observations of unethical activities at Hansel preceded the training. The team members have given guidance on ethical activities and particularly for questions related to ethics.

Government resolution on ownership policy was issued on 8 April 2020. The resolution requires strong integration of corporate responsibility in state companies’ business operation, goal-oriented management of corporate responsibility, risk identification, and a risk management system. The resolution also requires that stakeholders have a secure way to inform the corporate management of any violations of human rights or employee rights. The government resolution and the whistleblowing directive require that a channel is established for reporting issues and malpractice confidentially and anonymously.

Hansel’s reporting channel was introduced in 2019, so no changes were needed in this respect. The resolution also requires that companies prepare an anti-corruption operating and reporting model suitable for the company’s operation. Hansel devised instructions for an anti-corruption operating and reporting model that compile the anti-corruption measures included in Hansel’s working instructions and observed in action.