Code of Conduct

Employees are essential for the profitability and development of the business. Ensuring that employees have satisfying jobs, are engaged in their work and that everyone strives towards the same goals and vision are therefore vital elements. By building a culture of participation, integrity and safety awareness, the Group strives to create a working environment that enables employees and the business to develop.

All employees work in accordance with their company’s values. Together with the code of conduct, these basic principles provide guidelines for employees’ actions with regard to business ethics, looking after colleagues, customers, partners and the environment.

Skills development and leadership

Skills development and the training of employees is an important area. Svedbergs Academy was launched in 2020 to create a clearer structure for this work. The academy provides ongoing internal training in various areas with the aim of passing on knowledge and experiences.

Employee reviews are held each year for all employees to ensure their development and identify opportunities for improvement from a mutual point of view. Regular pulse meetings and pulse boards throughout the organisation are used to continuously capture employees’ opinions, suggestions and thoughts about the working environment.

Diversity and equality

Diversity and gender equality are an important part of efforts to strengthen the corporate culture. Svedbergs Group is committed to promoting equality for everyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or sexual orientation. This is reflected in the Group’s day-to-day operations and during recruitment.

Women and men should have equal conditions for employment and promotion. Employees in equivalent positions should have the same terms of employment and – within the framework of individual salary setting – receive the same salary packages. At the end of the year the total number of employees was 248 (240), of which 29 percent (28) were women and 71 percent (72) were men.

Health and safety

Organised and systematic health and safety measures are essential so that the companies in the Group can offer a safe and attractive workplace. The health and safety of employees therefore has the highest priority. All units follow systematic health and safety procedures, which ensure that all workplace accidents and incidents are reported and analysed so that measures can be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. Employees receive regular health and safety training and strong emphasis is placed on maintaining safety in production. Health and safety work is conducted according to the health and safety policy.

Employee health is also promoted through wellness contributions and occupational healthcare. All employees in Sweden have access to the Benify benefit portal, including the Lifeplan pension advisory portal.

Healthy attendance in 2021 was 95.7 percent (95.1). Long-term absence was 1.7 percent (1.6). The goal is that healthy attendance should be at least 96.5 percent of regular working hours. Sick leave is monitored continuously through the occupational healthcare service, and appropriate rehabilitation measures are taken where necessary. The Group is a member of the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise and has signed a collective agreement that covers both blue-collar and white-collar employees.

Good business technique

Svedbergs Group does not tolerate any form of corruption, bribery, extortion or money laundering, and distances itself from any illegal restriction of competition, whether it involves employees, customers, suppliers or individuals working for or on behalf of the Group. An important tool is the code of conduct, which must be accepted by both employees and suppliers.

The code of conduct is based on the key principles of the UN Global Compact and sets out rules in areas such as:

Human rights
Environmental and working conditions
Business ethics

Vid misstanke om oegentligheter såsom mutor, intressekonflikter, insiderhandel, miljöbrott eller säkerhetsbrister uppmanas medarbetare, kunder och leverantörer att rapportera detta. Guidelines and instructions for the whistleblower service are provided in the Group’s code of conduct, published on the website. Board members and those in senior positions receive training in stock exchange rules, including insider trading and conflicts of interest. People with temporary insider information are documented and registered on an insider list. The code of conduct is adopted annually by the Board

Responsible supply chains

Svedbergs Group attaches great importance to establishing good relationships with suppliers and ensuring control and responsibility throughout the supply chain. The Group takes steps to promote safe and fair working conditions and responsibility in matters concerning the environment and social conditions at all levels.

Before signing an agreement with a new supplier, a risk assessment and evaluation are always carried out to check the supplier’s ability to ensure reliable deliveries of high-quality, affordable products, as well as their ability to meet requirements for social and environmental responsibility. The risk assessment is primarily based on the Amfori Social Compliance Initiative – a global corporate initiative that is intended to safeguard responsible supply chains.

Annual risk assessments are carried out on strategic suppliers to ensure that high standards are maintained. Based on the results of the assessment, internal and external third-party audits are performed on selected suppliers. In 2021, two external audits were carried out. If any deviations are identified, a list of measures is drawn up. The Group then works closely with the supplier to ensure that such deviations are remedied. In the event of repeated deviations or shortcomings in compliance with the Group’s requirements, partnerships and agreements are terminated. Over the past five years, one partnership has been terminated.