Business Conduct and Ethics
Kotn is committed to conducting its business with the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and professionalism. This Business Conduct and Ethics Policy establishes guidelines and expectations for all employees, contractors, and representatives to ensure ethical behavior, compliance with laws and regulations, and the protection of our organization's reputation.
Compliance with Laws and Regulations:
-All employees must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and standards in all aspects of their work.
-It is the responsibility of each employee to be aware of and adhere to legal requirements relevant to their roles.
Ethical Conduct:
-Employees are expected to act with honesty, integrity, and fairness in all business interactions, both internal and external.
-Confidentiality of sensitive information, including customer data, trade secrets, and proprietary information, must be maintained at all times.
Respectful Workplace:
-Kotn is committed to maintaining a respectful and inclusive work environment, free from discrimination, harassment, or any form of inappropriate behavior.
-Employees should treat one another with respect, regardless of differences in race, sex, gender, religion, age, disability, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
When you are in a situation in which competing loyalties could cause you to pursue a personal benefit for you, your friends or your family at the expense of Kotn, you may be faced with a conflict of interest.
Areas where conflicts of interest often arise:
Personal investments
Outside employment, advisory roles, board seats, and starting your own business
Business opportunities found through work
Inventions
Friends and relatives; co-worker relationships
Accepting gifts, entertainment and other business courtesies
Conflicts of interest are not always clear cut. To help determine whether you are faced with a potential conflict of interest, you must consult your supervisor and/or ask yourself:
Could this activity create an incentive for me, or be perceived by others to create an incentive for me, to benefit myself, my friends or my family, or an associated business at the expense of Kotn?
Could this activity negatively impact my ability to do my job at Kotn, or potentially harm Kotn or its reputation?
Could this activity negatively impact Kotn if it showed up on the front page of a newspaper or a blog?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” the relationship or situation is likely to create a conflict of interest, and you must avoid it.
In each of these situations, the rule is the same. If you are considering entering into a situation that creates a conflict of interest, don’t. If you are in a situation that may create a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, review the situation with management immediately. Finally, it’s important to understand that as circumstances change, a situation that previously didn’t present a conflict of interest may in time present one.
Reporting Violations:
- Employees should promptly report any suspected violations of this policy to the designated ethics officer, management, or through the designated reporting channels provided by the company.
-Reports will be handled confidentially, and there will be no retaliation against individuals who report violations in good faith.
Consequences for Violations:
-Violations of this Business Conduct and Ethics Policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
-Employees found to have engaged in illegal activities may be subject to legal proceedings and appropriate measures.
GRATUITY AND ENTERTAINMENT
Offering or receiving any gratuity or entertainment that might be perceived to unfairly influence a business relationship should be avoided.