Ethics management
[GRI 102-16] The main document governing the issue of ethics at PKO Bank Polski SA is the Bank’s Code of Ethics. Apart from it, the Bank also applies “The Code of Banking Ethics (Principles of Good Banking Practice)” by the Polish Bank Association.
The Bank’s Code of Ethics supports the binding organizational culture of the Bank. It is also a tool supporting the popularization and implementation of the Bank’s values, such as reliability, Customer satisfaction, entrepreneurship and continuous improvement. These values should be followed by all employees of the Bank, regardless of their position or function.
2019
The Bank strongly promotes ethics among its employees. For this purpose, two large campaigns were carried out in 2019. The first one was carried out in January and it was related to a change of the regulations in the area of ethics. The second one was carried out in October in connection with the election of Ambassadors of Ethics.
The Ambassadors of Ethics are a new function at the Bank. They are elected in a general election by all employees of the Bank from among the candidates who enjoy positive opinions and respect in and outside the banking profession.
The first election of Ambassadors of Ethics, which was conducted in October 2019, was organized in line with the Bank’s division into retail regions. In the first election 12 Ambassadors of Ethics were elected for a two-year term, which started on 25 October.
The role of the Ambassadors of Ethics involves supporting persons who report violations of their rights in the area of ethics, such as mobbing or discrimination, and supporting the employer in creating solutions that strengthen the values, principles, norms of conduct and attitudes referred to in the Bank’s Code of Ethics. Details of actions aimed at promoting ethics are agreed with the Ambassadors of Ethics.
The Bank’s Code of Ethics covers four areas:
- the Bank’s relations with Customers;
- relations between the Bank’s employees;
- the Bank’s approach to cooperation with Business Partners;
- the Bank’s activities outside the business area.
The Bank’s Code of Ethics and the Bank’s Employment Regulations contain provisions, among other things, regarding the prevention of discrimination by gender, age, disability, religion and creed, race, ethnic origin, nationality, political convictions, union membership, sexual orientation, employment for a definite or indefinite term and full-time or part-time employment.
In addition to these issues, the Bank’s Code of Ethics and the Bank’s Employment Regulations address such issues as not using confidential information for private purpose, not taking steps that would be in conflict with their employment duties, the prohibition to conduct lobbying activities and the prevention of corrupt practices.