A roadmap for ethics

Ethics are a core value in business conduct. Every company has duties and responsibilities in this regard and Bouygues is no exception.

Within the Group, respect, integrity and responsibility are key principles which guide both senior executives and employees every single day and, more widely, stakeholders and public and private partners. An overview of the Group’s positioning on ethics.

by Justine Moretti

One authority body, specialist officers and tools for everyone

• The Board of Directors’ Ethics, CSR and Patronage Committee is indefatigable in its careful approach. It assists in defining the codes of conduct that should inspire the behaviour of senior executives and employees and ensures that they are respected.

• Ethics officers within each business segment to encourage employees to adopt the right behaviour.

You joined the Group in 2011. Have you noticed any changes concerning ethics?

Ethics is a priority in the Group. In nearly fifteen years, the concept of ethics has grown both broader and stronger. First, it has expanded to include new matters. Ethics is no longer limited to the fight against corruption; it now applies to human rights, health and safety, fundamental freedoms, and the environment as well.

To keep up with the growing number of ever-more demanding and restrictive regulations related to ethics, the Group had to make its ethics framework more robust, especially at the international level.

We must develop and implement an ethics policy in all business segments and everywhere the Group operates, regardless of what is required.

How is the Group’s ethics strategy structured today?

It proceeds from the basic belief that unethical behavior cannot guarantee long-term success. No concessions should be made when an employee’s behavior is unethical. Several key points follow from this. First, we have a vital need to provide ongoing training to all employees and especially the legal staff, since they, along with our colleagues in HR, are the primary ethics representatives. But such training is also essential for all the Group’s managers who interact with clients and external partners. The second immediate issue is to encourage people to speak freely and to continue communicating about our whistleblower system, which allows employees and outside parties to report unethical behavior such as workplace harassment, violation of competition rules, or corruption (Single tool, p. 17). And last, we must continually monitor changes in ethics-related regulations.

Is it still possible to reconcile ethics, sustainability, and business?

The answer is, of course, yes, and the Group has even made a commitment to it. This has been Martin Bouygues’ conviction for years. It is inconceivable that Bouygues would undertake a project without first assessing its consequences from the ethical and sustainability standpoints. Investors also prefer projects that meet these criteria. Similarly, we have a duty to refuse to do certain projects, to operate in certain countries, or to collaborate with certain partners if their ethical standards do not measure up. I would also add that sustainability is becoming a very important matter for our employees, especially younger ones. If we want our Group to continue to attract talented people, it is essential to have high standards in this regard.

How can a culture of ethics be promoted with employees?

To promote the Group’s culture of ethics, we need ambassadors and more events. Adoption of this culture will be aided by strong commitment from top management, which needs to infuse this culture into everyday life at work. The role of the ethics officers is also crucial; they are the primary ethics ambassadors in the businesses. They guide employees concerning the proper behavior to adopt – for example, if an employee is wondering whether it is alright to accept a gift or an invitation from a supplier. Ethics and compliance officers are there to explain the relevant policies and help employees make the right decisions. Training plays a key role in this process. To sum up, continuous training, guidance, and, when necessary, sanctions are required to increase everyone’s ethics awareness.