What a great idea!
07 Jun 2008
One of our clients is K. Hovnanian Homes. They’re a terrific client, and we enjoy their efforts to promote and educate consumers on Energy Star homes and green building.
I’ve always found them to be extremely ethical in their business dealings and media interaction, as well, but was pleasantly surprised this week to receive a letter from them to all their partner companies, outlining their Code of Ethics.
The letter encourages each partner company to carefully read the code and abide by it. They outline what they consider to be serious offences of ethical misconduct, and note that “these activities may jeopardize the safety of our associates and irrevocably impair the company’s reputation.”
What I find particularly useful is the fact that they provide a toll-free Corporate Governance & Ethics Hotline in the letter for the anonymous reporting of complaints and concerns.
Wow!
They note that, “As an important business partner of the company, you [Utopia] and your employees are also encouraged to utilize the hotline to report any incident which may be perceived as inappropriate or unethical behavior, the braking of any law, or a violation of company policy or procedure.”
They note that the letter and hotline number should be shared with all of Utopia’s employees.
You know, it’s not uncommon for a company to have an internal code of ethics, but this is the first time I’ve seen one shared with all vendors and partner companies. When you think about it, it’s a wonderful idea. The people/vendors who work closely with your company need to understand where you set the bar and that you expect them act in accordance with your ideals.
I’ve always liked working with K. Hovnanian…but now I like them even more!
