Dealing with unethical behaviour

If you think you have seen or experienced unethical behaviour, you should do something about it. Start by discussing it with your supervisor or manager. He or she is responsible for taking action to correct anything that may be wrong. However, if you feel unable or uncomfortable using the normal reporting channels, you may consult one of the other sources of advice. If you prefer, you may write to the Rolls-Royce Company Secretary.

In addition, Rolls-Royce is progressively introducing an ethics reporting line to enable you to talk in confidence to someone outside your immediate business unit if you suspect that the law or our Code may have been broken. This facility already exists in North America and is known as the Ethics Helpline and will be known elsewhere as the Ethics Reporting Line. This facility is being extended to other parts of the world, where it is permissible within local law. Companies that specialise in providing an independent, confidential telephone answering service operate these facilities.

A member of their staff will take your call and listen to your concern. They will then make a report to the company. They will also give you a call reference number so that you can contact them again to find out what is being done. Giving your name will help in following up the concern quickly. Your details will remain confidential and be known only to those specifically involved in investigating your concern. However, if you request that your call be dealt with on an anonymous basis your wish will be respected.

The information you provide will be given to the Rolls-Royce Director of Security or, in North America, the Vice President, Security, who is independent of the business structure and will deal with issues impartially and in strict confidence. In some cases he may need advice or information from other senior executives in order to complete his investigations. Cases may also be brought to the attention of the group of directors who review the company’s ethical performance.

The Board wants you to take an ethical approach to your work for Rolls-Royce and will protect your position and maintain the integrity of the reporting process. Anyone who tries to undermine this commitment, or deliberately gives false information, can expect to be disciplined, which may include action up to and including dismissal.