Honesty, integrity and respect for people

Zero tolerance to corruption

We do not bribe, nor do we accept bribes. We do not sanction illegal payments of any kind and investigate all suspicious circumstances. Any employee found to have breached our firm 'no bribes' policy may be dismissed. Shell policy is that the direct or indirect offer, payment, soliciting or acceptance of bribes in any form is unacceptable. Facilitation payments are also bribes and should not be made. Shell companies operate a procedure to identify possible breaches and we report annually on the results of this process.

Honest and open

We aim to be fair, honest and open in every aspect of our work and our relationships with others. Since 1997, we have voluntarily reported on our environmental and social performance. We do it because of our commitment to being transparent and honest; and because this performance matters to our staff, to our shareholders, and to the governments and people of the countries in which we work. We have key performance indicators to enable us to track our performance and help us better manage efforts across our operations for these key global environmental and social impacts.

In late 2006, we launched a Shell-wide Code of Conduct. It applies to all staff working either in Shell companies, or in joint ventures where we have a controlling interest. The Code is intended to help staff put our Business Principles into practice by defining the basic rules and standards we expect them to follow and the behaviour required. The Code gives practical advice in more than 20 areas, from antitrust law to substance abuse. A breach of the Code by an employer might cause a breach of the law or violating our internal guidelines, which may result in disciplinary action against the employee.

Every year we go through a process to check our commitment against these principles. In the process, managers responsible for each part of the business write to the Chief Executive, confirming how they have kept in line with the standards, and reporting any exceptions and failures. These reports are followed up with face-to-face meetings with Shell’s most senior management. Where problems arise, priority is given to fixing them.

Making our position clear

Shell’s position is that business has no mandate to participate in party politics, but Shell companies do have the right and responsibility to make their position known on any matter which affects themselves, their employees, their customers, or their shareholders.

They also have the right to make their position known on matters affecting the community, where they have a contribution to make.

Shell companies do not make donations to political parties and treat this issue in the same way as bribery and corruption. We report annually on the implementation of this policy of no political payments.

Shell is actively engaged in promoting ethical business behaviour through its membership of, and support for (all links open in new window):

• Transparency International
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
• World Business Council on Sustainable Development
• Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD
• International Business Leaders Forum
• The Confederation of European Business (BUSINESSEUROPE)
• UN Global Compact Principles
• World Economic Forum
  

Download the revised Shell General Business Principles (PDF, size 1.5Mb) - opens in new window

Visit the online Shell Sustainability Report 2006 and discover how we are living by our principles - opens in a new window.

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