Business Ethic Hotline

Over the last 18 months the ABB Group Compliance Office has updated the Legal & Compliance Group Directives and policies, and implemented new compliance programs in ABB worldwide. Over 109,000 employees have received compliance training either face to face or via e-learning, and the Business Ethics Hotline and reporting process has been made available to over 100 ABB countries.

The Business Ethics Hotline has provided employees the opportunity to report their concerns directly to the ABB Group Compliance Office by telephone, e-mail or direct mail. Within the first year of its operation the Compliance Office received over 300 reports, reviewed each case and took appropriate action against employees when specific allegations of unethical behavior were proven. To date, ABB has identified that the hotline reporting process is effective in identifying and reviewing reported concerns within our company.
In 2008 the Compliance Office is continuing to promote the Business Ethics Hotline by rolling out an additional communication campaign focused on employee education. The campaign will include comprehensive 'Hotline Info Points,' which will display posters as well as brochures and information for employees concerning their local country hotline. Hotline communications will be adapted per local legal requirements.
Based on the positive experience with the Business Ethics Hotline, ABB will also be extending the hotline process to our business partners by introducing the ABB Stakeholder Hotline. The Stakeholder Hotline will be a telephone and web-based reporting system that can be used by external business partners to report allegations of wrongdoing by ABB employees. These business partners include customers, distributors, suppliers or ABB representatives who regularly interact with ABB. The implementation of the Stakeholder Hotline may vary in some countries depending on local legislation.
As ABB strives to be competitive and an industry leader in ethical behavior, the Compliance Office will continue to stress the importance of conducting business in an ethical and moral manner. We want to achieve success by building on our ABB principles of responsibility, respect and determination.