Top > Corporate Social Responsibility > [Activity Report] Management > Compliance
- [Activity Report] Management
- Corporate Governance
- Risk Management
- Compliance
- Responsibility to Shareholders and Investors
Benesse Group Principles
In October 2010, we established the Benesse Group Principles. Rooted in the Group’s corporate philosophy, the principles direct correct behavior for each corporateofficer and employee to ensure that they perform their duties appropriately and ethically. Following the Benesse Group Principles, each operating company will observe societal rules, corporate ethical principles and laws and regulations, while continuing as a company to present value to society. In this way we are building a management structure to facilitate continuous growth and development.
Benesse Corporation Code of Conduct
Benesse Corporation has formulated the Benesse Corporation Code of Conduct based on the Benesse Group Principles. Under this Code, each person without exception must conduct themselves appropriately and fairly in order to deliver value to society and to be worthy of society's trust. To achieve these objectives, the "Benesse Corporation Code of Conduct" specifies in practical terms the nature of conduct, standards, and regulations to be observed.
All officers and employees are required to submit a document confirming their understanding of the Code, which helps to raise awareness of compliance.
The Internal Whistleblower System
The Benesse Group has the Benesse Group Speak Up Line, and Corporate Auditor Hotline.
The Benesse Group Speak Up Line enables employees to report breaches or possible breaches of law and regulations, the Benesse Group Code of Conduct and ethics. Reports made using the system are adjusted to ensure that the identity of the person making the report cannot be determined from the content, before being passed to the representative director and Statutory Auditors.
The Corporate Auditor Hotline, meanwhile, was set up specifically for employees to provide information that could relate to directors and other senior managers of Benesse Holdings, and issues that involve the management of the entire Benesse Group. This will allow more rapid responses by ensuring information is reported directly to the Company's Statutory Auditors, who are independent of other senior management.
Speak Up Line and Corporate Auditor Hotline Operating Frameworks
| Reasons for Contact | Department / Individuals Responsible | Contact Method | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benesse Group Speak Up Line | Cases that infringe, or potentially infringe, compliance and ethics | Management Promotion Department, Benesse Holdings | Email via third-party organization to ensure anonymity |
| Corporate Auditor Hotline | Cases that infringe, or potentially infringe, compliance and ethics
|
Statutory Auditors of Benesse Holdings | Email via third-party organization to ensure anonymity (Direct email contact with Statutory Auditors is also possible) |
The Perspective of a Statutory Auditor
Meeting Tremendous Expectations for Benesse with Sincerity
Kimie Sakuragi
Statutory Auditor
Responding to the Great East Japan Earthquake was a profoundly heartbreaking experience, but one that taught all of us a great many things. As a company with a corporate philosophy centered on “Well-Being” operating in the education, nursing care, language and lifestyle domains, we were forced to deeply consider how we should cope with this unprecedented tragedy, and to ask ourselves what we can do for our customers and our society. The situation also made us acutely aware once again of the tremendous expectations that society, our customers and many other stakeholders have for the Company.
Compliance and CSR are about more than simply complying with laws and rules and fulfilling basic social obligations and responsibilities. What they are really about is how a company will meet the expectations of its society, customers and other stakeholders. Corporate governance then becomes the means by which management accurately captures and meets those expectations at a high level.
I believe the fact that the management and employees at Benesse both act in this spirit is one of the Group’s strengths, and is ultimately its source of growth.
