Ethics and Compliance
As a global healthcare company operating in more than 100 countries, Baxter recognizes the importance of adhering to a common set of ethics and compliance policies and values that are clearly communicated and understood companywide.
Baxter continues its long-established commitment to operating ethically and acting with integrity across its global operations. The company manages a broad range of programs and promotes activities that equip all employees to make good decisions about appropriate behaviors in the markets in which they operate.
Working closely with operating and legal teams based regionally in Baxter's businesses, the Ethics and Compliance function ensures that Baxter's actions adhere to applicable laws and to company policies. The organization offers numerous channels to educate and counsel employees as well as confidential avenues to report any alleged violations of law and policy, which it investigates promptly and reports to senior management as appropriate.
In 2006, Baxter performed an internal assessment of its program and enhanced its Ethics and Compliance function globally, by:
- Moving Baxter's Environment, Health and Safety compliance group into the Ethics and Compliance organization to more effectively share leadership practices across the company;
- Adding regional ethics and compliance lawyers in Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America to provide counseling and build on the leadership that regional committees already offer; and
- Making additional investments at the corporate level.
