Reinier advises national and international companies
reinier.russell@russell.nl +31 20 301 55 55How do you create a transparent, open and professional corporate culture where everyone knows which actions would be considered appropriate and which would (not) be considered ethically acceptable?
Increasingly often, company managers are dismissed because of violations of the code of conduct, such as involvement in scandal, (sexual) harassment, fraud or leaks of sensitive information. This is also due to the increasing public interest in this kind of violations and the zero tolerance policy nowadays applied by many companies.
Of course, you want all your employees to act with integrity, but you should definitely be able to rely on the major players of your company. A director who is subject to an integrity investigation while he should set an example for your employees can cause a difficult situation.
How do you, as an entrepreneur, make sure that everyone who acts on behalf of your company, both inside and outside the company, acts in a manner you desire?
Our lawyers recommend to have drawn up an integrity policy containing the core values and rules of conduct of the company.
The integrity policy can either be a separate document or it can be included as part of the employee handbook / code of conduct which also contains a social media policy.
Russell Advocaten helps enterprises and their directors carrying out an investigation (fact finding/integrity screening) and conducting proceedings regarding integrity issues within companies. In addition, our lawyers provide advice on what you can do to create the desired work environment, for example by drafting, implementing and maintaining a sound integrity policy. Please contact:
Taking steps in the event of irregularities or a #MeToo-related issue in your company? Make sure all facts are disclosed by means of a thorough investigation of the facts!
What can you do to prevent sexual harassment on the workfloor? And what do you, as an employer, have to do if it does occur unexpectedly?
Employees who consume alcohol and drugs during work or who want to work under the influence remain a problem for employers. What measures can you take against this? Are you allowed to test an employee if you suspect they are under the influence?
Many companies do not have a works council, even though they should. When is it mandatory to establish one? What are the advantages of a works council? What are the consequences if your company does not have a works council?
Discrimination in the recruitment and hiring of new staff is not permitted. When do you, as an employer, discriminate during the application process, even unintentionally? And how can you prevent this, also if you use AI?
The government wants to improve the legal position of flex workers with a new law. What will it mean for employers and flex workers if the legislative proposal is adopted? What new rules will you need to take into account?
