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Corporate Responsibility Report 2008

Training and awareness

Training and awareness programmes help employees understand the importance of ethical conduct and to apply our policies in practice.

New employees in the UK and the US complete induction training on our Code of Conduct, which is available on our intranet site. Our annual management certification programme requires managers to confirm that they comply with our ethics policies. The programme covers over 14,000 managers worldwide.

Managers can access three e-Learning modules on ethical leadership. Specialised training is provided for employees working in R&D, manufacturing and sales and marketing, where there are additional regulatory requirements.

Our corporate ethics and compliance intranet contains links to all company policies, ethics and compliance training for new recruits, an ethical decision-making model, an ethics quiz, contact details for compliance officers and the free phone numbers for our Global Confidential Reporting line. As well as this phone line which is available in over 25 languages and can be used for reporting any concerns employees may have relating to compliance with our policies and the Code of Conduct, we also have an Integrity Helpline based in the US. This provides advice to callers, from both within and outside the company, on Code of Conduct issues, as well as being a reporting channel.

Training for employees working in sales and marketing includes:

  • Induction training and testing on our marketing code of practice
  • Detailed training for sales representatives on the medicines they promote and the diseases they are designed to treat
  • Regular refresher courses held at least once a year
  • Regular management updates in Europe, Emerging Markets and Asia Pacific and the US on the types of unethical conduct detected and disciplinary actions taken

Ethics training in practice

Ethics training helps employees make the right decisions and apply our policies in practice. For example, new employees are encouraged to ask themselves the following questions before making a decision:

  • Is it legal and ethical?
  • Is it consistent with GSK policy and the Code of Conduct?
  • Is it consistent with GSK’s Mission and Spirit?
  • Can I explain it to my family and friends?
  • Would I be comfortable if it appeared in a newspaper?

We also run ethical decision-making training for established employees and leaders. During training employees explore ethical dilemmas they may face in their work and receive guidance to help them understand the appropriate response. This is one example of an ethical dilemma:

When you arrive at the office, there is a large gift basket filled with very expensive chocolates and other gourmet treats on your desk. You estimate its value at $250. Enclosed is a note from a consultant: “Thanks for choosing us as your consulting partner. We look forward to working with you.”

You should:

a. Keep the gift for yourself. Since you already chose the consultant, the gift can’t be considered as having influenced your decision

b. Call the owner and explain that while the gift was certainly thoughtful, you cannot accept it because it is against GSK policies to accept such an item. Tell her that you will be returning the gift basket and that you look forward to working with her firm

c. Put the goodies by the office coffee station for everyone to enjoy

The best solution is to return the gift, answer (b).


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Ethical standards

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