There are many definitions of the word "Ethics," but the common thread that runs through all of them is doing what is right and fair when it comes to people dealing with people. Nowhere is that more important than in the area of guaranteed equal opportunities for each of us.
If there is an established law or TI policy covering a decision facing us, then part of the decision-making process is taken out of our hands. The decision may have already been made for us, for at TI we will follow the law under all circumstances. However, when there is a decision to be made, then our values and our principles, our ethics, come into play.
One such area that is covered by law and TI policy, which also involves ethical decision-making, is the area of equal opportunity, where prohibitions exist against prejudice in regard to race, color, religion, handicap, national origin, sex, age, or veteran status. All employment and personnel decisions such as selection, hiring, training, transfer, promotion, demotion, layoff, discipline, and termination must be based only on job-related factors. But where the ethics come into play is in fairness issues, such as timing, dignity, the interpretation of job-related, and appropriateness of actions and methods.
A long standing TI policy prohibiting TI from buying products and services from a TIer is intended to prevent even the appearance of a conflict of interest or the use of inside information for personal gain.
We published an article describing the considerations involved in a TIer's personal business activities. Opportunities arise for extra income and under appropriate circumstances such outside interests are perfectly acceptable.
But suppose a TIer has an opportunity to sell products or services directly to TI? We have had a long standing policy that prohibits purchases from TIers, from close relatives of TIers, or from companies in which TIers have a major financial interest.
The purpose of this policy is to prevent even the appearance that there is a conflict of interest or that an employee has used inside information for personal gain. TI should always purchase from qualified suppliers who all have a fair and equal opportunity to find out about our buying requirements and to compete for them.
But employees often have special knowledge of purchasing needs or are sometimes involved in defining those needs. For those reasons, we want to avoid purchasing from employees or from a company that may have an opportunity for a special advantage because of a close relationship with an employee.
If enforcing this policy would be clearly detrimental to TI's interests, exceptions may be granted, but only on a case-by-case basis for a specific requirement, individual, and time period. Such exceptions require the approval of an appropriate TI group president or TI executive vice-president.