Code of Conduct

Preamble

The following Code of Conduct applies to all companies of the Sietzy Group, including Allmeson GmbH, Metallwarenfabrik Hirsch GmbH, Stahl-Becker GmbH and Sietzy Gruppe GmbH.
The companies of the Sietzy Group adhere to the principles of "Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)".

  • The companies of the Sietzy Group monitor the direct and indirect effects of their business activities on the environment and society and strive to achieve an appropriate balance of economic, ecological and social interests.
  • The companies of the Sietzy Group adhere to generally accepted values and principles and act in compliance with the law, in particular the internationally recognised human rights and labour standards as set out below.
  • The companies of the Sietzy Group support the objectives and content of the Code of Conduct and will make every appropriate and reasonable effort within the scope of their respective legal and actual possibilities to continuously comply with this voluntary commitment.

Ethical/Moral Commitment and Integrity

The companies of the Sietzy Group pursue only legal business objectives and practices and maintain business relationships only with reputable partners.
The companies of the Sietzy Group treat their business partners and customers in a fair and respectful way.
The companies of the Sietzy Group respect different legal, economic, social, and cultural backgrounds and the specific circumstances of the countries and regions in which they operate. In doing so, the companies of the Sietzy Group respect the laws and regulations of the countries and regions in which business activities take place.
They always base their business activities on universally accepted ethical values and principles, including integrity and respect for human dignity.
The companies of the Sietzy Group are committed to free and fair global trade.

Corruption, Trade Control, Money Laundering

The companies of the Sietzy Group reject any form of bribery and corruption. To this end, we avoid even the slightest appearance of these – whether in the form of granting or accepting unfair advantages. The companies of the Sietzy Group act in accordance with applicable import and export control regulations and adhere to legal requirements for the prevention of money laundering.

Fair Competition

The companies of the Sietzy Group advocate free and fair competition. They do not tolerate anti-competitive agreements and ensure that they act in compliance with applicable antitrust laws. They reject competitive advantages through unfair business practices.
Handling Personal Data, Protection of Confidential Information and Intellectual Property
The companies of the Sietzy Group respect the personal rights of their employees, business partners and customers and comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements regarding the processing of personal data and information security when handling personal information.
The companies of the Sietzy Group protect entrusted trade secrets and other confidential information of their business partners and customers from unauthorized acquisition, use and disclosure, minimum in accordance with the relevant legal provisions for the protection of trade secrets.
The companies of the Sietzy Group respect the intellectual property of their business partners, customers and other third parties and ensure that adequate precautions are taken to protect intellectual property rights when exchanging know-how and technology.

Protecting Consumer Interests

Where products and services of the companies of the Sietzy Group affect the interests of consumers, appropriate measures are taken to ensure the safety and quality of these products or services. The companies of the Sietzy Group ensure that the products or services comply with the relevant statutory consumer protection regulations.
As part of information and sales measures, the companies of the Sietzy Group take consumer interests into account by applying the legal requirements for fair business, marketing and advertising practices and consumer education.

Ecological Responsibility and Commitment

The protection and preservation of natural resources concerns and obligates us all. With this in mind, the companies of the Sietzy Group conduct their business activities in an ecologically responsible manner and are committed to the goal of a climate-neutral future.

Protection of the environment and climate

The companies of the Sietzy Group assume their ecological responsibility by applying legal requirements and recognized standards for environmental protection. They work to continuously reduce the negative impacts of their business activities on the environment and climate.
The companies of the Sietzy Group respect applicable law and take appropriate ecological measures based on legal and internationally recognized standards. Among others, this concerns the following topics:

  • Professional and responsible handling of hazardous substances, chemicals, and waste, including their disposal
  • Measures to reduce or avoid waste
  • Minimizing emissions from operational processes (e.g., wastewater, exhaust air, noise, greenhouse gases)
  • Conserving natural resources, for example through measures to conserve water, chemicals, and other raw materials and promoting a circular economy
  • Use of climate- and eco-friendly technologies, processes, raw materials, and products
  • Measures to increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energies i.a. at the company site.

Animal and Species Protection

The companies of the Sietzy Group adhere to the principles of animal and biodiversity protection and act accordingly.

Human Rights and Labor Standards

Human dignity is inviolable. The companies of the Sietzy Group respect the internationally recognized human rights set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The companies of the Sietzy Group adhere to the internationally recognized labor standards of the International Labor Organization (ILO), as listed below in the Code of Conduct.
In all their business activities, the companies of the Sietzy Group strive to neither cause nor contribute to human rights violations. They expect the same from their business partners.

Employment Relations

The companies of the Sietzy Group treat their employees with respect. They reject any form of unlawful punishment, abuse, harassment, intimidation or other unworthy treatment of employees.
The companies of the Sietzy Group adhere to applicable labor law in all employment relationships and expect the same from their contractual partners. Employees must be provided with clear information about the essential working conditions, including their rights and obligations, working hours, compensation and payment/billing arrangements, at the start of their employment relationship.
The companies of the Sietzy Group respect and protect the right of employees to terminate their employment relationship in compliance with the relevant notice period.

Rejection of Child Labor and Protection of Young Workers

The companies of the Sietzy Group do not tolerate child labor and respect the applicable legal minimum age for employment. They do not employ persons under the age of 15, nor under the age at which compulsory schooling ends, according to the law of the place of employment. Internships are organized in accordance with legal requirements.
The companies of the Sietzy Group expect their contractual partners to have appropriate means of determining age in order to prevent child labor. If child labor is discovered, all necessary measures must be taken immediately to focus on the welfare, protection, and development of the child.
For persons under the age of 18, the rights of young workers must be respected; they may only be employed if the working and employment conditions do not pose a risk to their health, safety or morals, nor are detrimental to their development.

Rejection of Forced Labor

The companies of the Sietzy Group reject forced or compulsory labor in any form. This also applies to any form of debt bondage, servitude, slavery or slave-like practices, human trafficking and all forms of involuntary labor and services that are incompatible with internationally recognized labor and social standards.

Remuneration Principles

The companies of the Sietzy Group apply the statutory provisions when remunerating labour services. They ensure that the payment of employees in the company does not fall below the applicable statutory minimum wage. Illegitimate deductions from wages, including deductions as a disciplinary measure, are not tolerated by the companies of the Sietzy Group.

Working Hours

The companies of the Sietzy Group apply the statutory provisions regarding working hours, including overtime, rest periods and holidays.
They ensure that

  • the regular weekly working hours plus the maximum possible overtime are not exceeded
  • they comply with working time regulations

Freedom of Association

The companies of the Sietzy Group respect the rights of employees to freedom of association and assembly, as well as the right to collective bargaining.

Diversity and Inclusion, Prohibition of Discrimination

The companies of the Sietzy Group value the diversity of their employees and promote a work environment that enables inclusion. Therefore, they are committed to equal opportunities and reject any form of discrimination and unequal treatment based on national and ethnic origin, social background, health status, disability, sexual orientation, age, gender, political opinion, religion or ideology.
The companies of the Sietzy Group implement the principle of equal pay for male and female workers for work of equal value.

Health and safety in the workplace

The companies of the Sietzy Group comply with national and international health and safety standards in the workplace. They ensure a safe and healthy working environment (preventing accidents, injuries, and work-related illnesses) to protect the health and safety of their employees and third parties.