Sustainable Business Conduct
Business conduct and Compliance Framework
We recognise the critical importance of a strong corporate governance and business conduct framework to ensure compliance with legal requirements. As an international insurance group, earning and maintaining the trust of our customers and all our stakeholders is key. Trust is strengthened through strict adherence to principles of business ethics, supported by a robust management and organisational framework. These principles, outlined in our governance framework, ensure that social and environmental considerations are effectively addressed and enforced.
To comply with laws and regulations and to safeguard our reputation, we have established clear rules and guidelines for all employees and for sales partners. Our compliance management system lays the foundation for meeting legal, regulatory, and internal requirements. For further information on our compliance framework, please refer to our Sustainability Statement:
Code of Conduct
Our Code of Conduct contains the fundamental principles and rules of conduct that Helvetia Baloise expects of its employees. Key principles include non-discrimination, promotion of diversity and equal opportunity, health protection, and respect for human rights. The Code of Conduct is binding for all business units of the Helvetia Baloise Group in Switzerland and abroad and must be applied to all areas of activity of the Helvetia Baloise Group. It binds the members of the Board of Directors and employees who work for Helvetia Baloise and its subsidiaries.
Vendor Code of Conduct
Helvetia Baloise has a “Vendor Code of Conduct” to show suppliers what is expected of a collaboration in a clear and transparent way.
It sets out the conduct-related topics for collaboration with suppliers and is based on our Group-wide purchasing policy, in which sustainability is enshrined as a material and integral criterion for the evaluation of suppliers and purchases.
The “Vendor Code of Conduct” is based on the principles of the UN Global Compact, which defines standards for the protection of the environment and human rights, observance of decent working conditions and the fight against corruption. The prevention of discrimination, compliance with antitrust law and compliance with sanctions are also part of our Group-wide Code of Conduct in purchasing.
Integral Security
Ensuring integral Group security and data protection are two important priorities when it comes to sustainable business conduct. We describe the approach for both priorities from a sustainability perspective in the flyers “Building Trust with Integral Security” and “Sustainable Security & Data Protection Approach”.
With our integral security concept, we take a proactive, holistic approach to protecting our assets – including customer relationships – from cyber threats, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and securing business continuity.
Our best practices to ensure integral Group security include regular reviews and controls, ongoing security training and modern information technology. The flyer “Building Trust with Integral Security” also provides a detailed description of the Helvetia Group’s security framework along the “Three Lines Model”.
The Three Lines Model
The Three Lines Model is a framework for risk management that is widely used in the financial and insurance industry. It is a cornerstone of good corporate governance and is endorsed by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). It consists of three lines or groups of people who work together to manage risks in the company.