Training-Contact-Action – Making Compliance and Integrity Part of Our Culture
We have dedicated compliance and integrity staff and five regional compliance officers around the world who work with senior management to implement our program. Our compliance and integrity team helps to make sure that our employees know what is expected of them and how to make the right decisions, especially when faced with difficult situations. Our live and online training programs help employees understand legal and ethical business practices.
Speaking Up and Being Heard
We expect employees to ask questions and raise concerns about business practices when they see something they think might be wrong. There may be times when employees are not comfortable speaking with their supervisors, compliance officers or human resources contacts, or simply wish to remain anonymous. Consistent with applicable local law, we have a toll-free and in some countries a collect call/reverse charge telephone HelpLine (PDF) and an online version WebLine, so that our employees can confidentially and, if they wish, anonymously report instances of suspected wrongdoing or ask questions about compliance matters. Our HelpLine (PDF) operates in more than 90 countries.
Listening, Investigating, Acting
In 2011, our compliance and integrity group received over 1,700 contacts from around the world through our "Speaking Up" channels. These contacts include over 600 questions about our compliance policies and program or matters that we referred to other departments for handling. We received over 650 reports of misconduct that required investigation. Some of these matters resulted in disciplinary action, including the separation of 117 people from the company.
Report to Management and the Board
To make sure that senior management and the Board of Directors are aware of any potentially significant matters, our compliance and integrity group reports investigations to members of our executive team and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
External Reports of Wrongdoing
Reports from people outside of the company of suspected wrongdoing may also be brought to our attention in four ways:
By mail:
Compliance & Integrity Department
Kraft Foods Inc.
Three Lakes Drive
Northfield, IL 60093
USA
By e-mail:
Through our Integrity HotLine: Our Integrity HelpLine is a toll-free and/or reverse charge service operated for Kraft Foods by a third-party. The HelpLine is accessible 24 hours a day, every day, and language interpreters are available. View a listing of toll-free numbers by country (PDF).