These Standards of Business Conduct reinforce Dry Force’s commitment to abide by all applicable laws and regulations, and provide employees guidance in identifying and handling a variety of potentially challenging compliance issues and concerns. Remember, these Standards cannot anticipate every situation that employees may face. However, no concern is too small or unimportant if it implicates Dry Force’s conduct in the market. Dry Force expects employees to maintain the highest standards of loyalty and ethical principles in all business activities in order to promote confidence in the services provided to members.
Policies and Procedures
Dry Force has adopted corporate policies and procedures (collectively, the Policies and Procedures) addressing many issues covered by these Standards in greater detail, as well as other topics. It is the responsibility of every Dry Force employee to review and understand the Policies and Procedures. Failure to comply with these Standards or the Policies and Procedures may result in disciplinary action. The Policies and Procedures are available from Human Resources.
Conduct Business Ethically
All employees are expected to act ethically and with integrity, and to uphold these values when performing their jobs. Dry Force’s commitment to ethics and integrity in business includes a special emphasis on being transparent in all business activities.
Comply With all Laws and Regulatory Requirements
All Dry Force employees are expected to fully comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. In addition to potential civil and criminal penalties against individual employees and the company, violations of law can compromise Dry Force’s reputation and ability to conduct business. Increased governmental scrutiny and regulation in the industry requires special care to ensure that all transactions are within applicable laws and regulations.
Conflict of Interest
The spirit of this policy is to preserve and protect the integrity and independence of all decisions affecting Dry Force made by its officers and employees so that the interests of Dry Force, and not that of any individual, prevail. The mere appearance of a conflict or a breach of confidence can often be as serious as an actual conflict or breach, and can result in irreparable damage to Dry Force and its reputation. At the same time, Dry Force does not wish to unnecessarily infringe upon the personal lives of its employees. Each individual has a responsibility and will be held accountable for complying with the spirit and letter of this policy.
Political Contributions
Dry Force encourages employees as private citizens to participate during non-business hours in the electoral process and in making contributions to political causes of their choice. Federal law prohibits a corporation from making direct or indirect political contributions of any kind, including transportation or other services at company expense.
Unethical Payments
Employees are prohibited from giving, offering, accepting or soliciting anything that could be construed as a bribe, kickback or other illegal or unethical payment in connection with Dry Force or its business. Employees who receive or become aware of such offers, solicitations or payments must report them immediately to their supervisor and to Dry Force’s Compliance Department.
Vendor Grievance Process
Dry Force has established processes to address supplier grievances related to the evaluation of products or new technology and to ensure that the appropriate member-driven contracting process is followed. If a supplier believes it was not awarded a contract as a result of Dry Force incorrectly evaluating a bid submission or incorrectly determining that a product did not represent new technology, the supplier may file a grievance in writing or via e-mail within 30 days of the product category contract effective date.
Financial Matters
All financial reporting and accounting will be maintained and reported in accordance with Dry Force’s internal Policies and Procedures. Dry Force will comply with generally accepted accounting principles designed to ensure that financial reports accurately describe Dry Force’s true financial position.
Intellectual Property
Trade secrets and other types of intellectual property provide Dry Force with a competitive advantage. Technical knowledge, know-how, trademarks, service marks, company names, supplier lists, member lists, copyrights and other trade secrets are valuable assets. Their protection is essential for Dry Force’s continued business success. If an employee becomes aware of any party who may be misusing any of Dry Force’s intellectual property, that misuse should be immediately brought to the attention of the employee’s supervisor and the Dry Force Legal Department.
Employees are also expected to respect the intellectual property of others, and refrain from infringing valid patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights or other intellectual property not owned by or licensed to Dry Force. Copying books, articles or software, or downloading and distributing or reproducing copyrighted information from the Internet may violate copyright laws and result in sanctions against the employee and Dry Force. Contracts or other arrangements relating to the use of intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, service marks, designs, copyrights, know-how and trade secrets) are often subject to special legal rules. All such contracts or other arrangements must be reviewed and approved by the Dry Force Legal Department.
Confidentiality
In the course of employment with Dry Force, employees will come into possession of and have access to confidential and proprietary documents of Dry Force. Under no circumstances, except as required by law or as directed by Dry Force, may an employee divulge such confidential or proprietary information to any third party.
Record-Keeping and Document Retention
Dry Force has Policies and Procedures relating to the creation, maintenance, retention and destruction of corporate documents, including but not limited to supplier contracts, correspondence and bid materials. All Dry Force employees are required to adhere to such record-keeping and document retention policies. Dry Force’s record keeping policy is to keep all records for five-years.
Travel and Business-Related Expenses
Employees are required to promptly record business expenses completely and accurately on expense reports in accordance with Dry Force’s Policies and Procedures. Entertainment, meals and travel expenses that are reported on expense reports must have a legitimate business purpose and not be lavish or extravagant.
Use of Company Resources
Dry Force provides property, including systems, supplies and equipment, intended to assist employees in the performance of their job responsibilities, allowing them to effectively serve the needs of members and conduct business in an efficient and professional manner. The use of such property requires that the highest standards of loyalty and ethical principles be consistently employed. Dry Force’s assets are intended to be used only for the legitimate business purposes of the company. Incidental and occasional personal use is permitted; however, personal use should never be disruptive, interfere with the conduct of Dry Force business or the performance of employees, nor should it create or appear to create a conflict of interest.