Omron 2009 Annual Report Download - page 49

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Upgrading Whistle Blower Hotline
Omron maintains a whistle blower hotline that protects
the privacy and anonymity of employees and encourages
early discovery of legal violations and employee trans-
gressions of the CSR Practice Guidelines to support
immediate communication to management and early cor-
rection. In Japan and North America, a whistle blower
hotline is in place inside and outside of the company for
Omron Group executives, full-time employees and tem-
porary staff as well as their families. In fiscal 2008, a direct
access newly became available through the electronic bul-
letin board on Intranets in Japan, in addition to conventional
telephone and email accesses.
In fiscal 2008, a total of 24 hotline contacts were made
in Japan and 8 in North America. The greatest number of
contacts in Japan sought advice regarding labor standards
compliance and respect for individuality and diversity, which
numbered 10. During the fiscal 2008 Corporate Ethics
Month, the Company provided power harassment recog-
nition training and conducted discussions centered on the
theme of human rights at worksite training sessions tar-
geting all employees.
Fortifying Information Security Management
Omron is continually upgrading its information security
management system to protect against leaks and ensure
the appropriate handling of confidential information sup-
plied from business associates, personal information and
its own company information. In fiscal 2007, the Company
launched the Information Security Management
Committee to establish management controls and pro-
mote employee education on information security issues.
In fiscal 2008, Omron continued education for all Group
employees in Japan, while also reviewing and reinforcing
individual information management rules.
This resulted in full-establishment of a PDCA cycle in
Japan to support review of information management sta-
tus under the promotion system. In the future, Omron will
strive to improve and disseminate regulations and verify
whether information security is also maintained properly
in regions outside Japan.
Crisis Management
Omron has established Basic Crisis Management
Guidelines designed to minimize the impact of events that,
when they arise or as they are occurring, have the poten-
tial to significantly impair management resources and
business continuity or that can damage social trust (value)
in the Company. Based on these guidelines, the Company
has specified a separate set of Basic Disaster Countermeasures
for natural disasters, such as earthquakes, storms, and
floods, and incidents of explosions, fire, or other calamity.
In fiscal 2008, the Company commenced a compre-
hensive review of its crisis management policies centered
on countermeasures for a worldwide outbreak of a new
influenza virus. Following the recommendations in the
Japanese government action plan and health guidelines,
the Company is revising its countermeasures, policies, and
actions plan (such as business continuity planning, infec-
tion control measures) to ensure maximum effectiveness.
BASIC POLICIES STIPULATED IN OMRON’S CRISIS MANAGEMENT RULES
1. Place human life and personal safety at the top of the list of priorities.
2. Give high priority to legal/regulatory compliance and respect for social rules.
3. Minimize the negative impact of crises on customers and society.
4. Curtail the negative impact of crises on Omron’s business and strive to ensure smooth
continuation and quick restoration of business operations.
5. Take necessary measures in a sincere and consistent manner.
6. Disclose information appropriately and remain accountable.