Merck 2010 Annual Report Download - page 124

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In accordance with its Mission Statement, “We at Merck do what we say and then measure
ourselves on this basis,” Merck relies on a common set of values: courage, achievement,
responsibility, respect, integrity and transparency. Based on a corporate culture that places the
fundamental company values at the center of our entrepreneurial actions, the Code of Conduct
helps those involved in the business process to implement the values when dealing with one
another on a daily basis.
Merck has created the Code of Conduct as a set of rules and regulations intended to help
Merck employees to act responsibly and to make the right decisions in their daily work. The
Code of Conduct explains the principles for dealings with business associates, general partners,
colleagues and employees, and in the communities in which we operate. Thus, it supports all
employees in acting ethically – not only in their dealings with one another, but also outside the
company. The Code of Conduct is thus the main set of rules for our compliance program.
Merck has striven throughout the centuries to follow ethical principles and values. All employees
shall be treated fairly and in compliance with local laws and regulations. Merck has defined
the principles for this in a social charter.
To Merck, compliance means observing legal and company-internal regulations and the basic
ethical principles anchored in the company values. With the Code of Conduct and the various
unit-specific compliance rules, the values are integrated into daily work and business practice.
The Code of Conduct is binding on all employees, both at headquarters as well as the subsidiaries
abroad. The Compliance Office monitors observance of the Code of Conduct with support from
corresponding auditing and training programs throughout the Group. All employees are called
upon to report compliance violations to their supervisor, Legal, HR or other relevant departments.
Merck created the position of Group Compliance Officer in 2002. This employee is responsible
for setting up, maintaining and further developing our global compliance program. By taking
appropriate measures, he/she helps to lower the risk of serious legal violations, of for instance
antitrust law and anticorruption rules. The role of the Group Compliance Officer is reflected
in the subsidiaries by the approximately 80 local compliance officers, who ensure that compliance
measures are implemented in the countries. This Group-wide network is used to steer the
global compliance program. Regular regional and global compliance meetings are held to
promote the exchange of information within the network. Newcomer training seminars were
introduced in 2010 for newly appointed compliance officers. These seminars serve to build up
compliance expertise and strengthen teambuilding within the compliance organization.
A high degree of importance is attached to regular compliance seminars, which are conducted
as on-site events, as well as via web-based training courses. By presenting various training
topics on corruption, antitrust and competition law, health care compliance and the Code of
Conduct, they serve to sensitize employees and management to the consequences of compliance
violations and to show ways to avoid them.
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