Corporate culture

Performing excellence.

Sustainable operations – today for future generations

In times of obvious climate change, we have made it our mission to use the resources available to us in a sustainable manner. It starts with an environmental management system that is consistently practiced by all employees and is reflected in all of our product developments. Together with our customers, we rely on the durability and recyclability of our developments. With the exception of transport, we now supply all energy-consuming processes, such as heating or cooling, with renewable forms of energy. A practical example: At our company locations, we combine photovoltaic systems with 150 kW peak with modern heat pump technology. This conscious use of resources also promotes togetherness in the company – one of the cornerstones of the corporate culture at Digital Elektronik.

Ethical behaviour is nothing new to us

As a family-owned company, sustainable ethical behaviour is nothing new, but lived practice and a fundamental philosophy of life.

We follow an extended code of conduct, in which our daily ethical behaviour is recorded in addition to the legal rules. We consistently pursue the goals of remaining an attractive employer for our employees and being a sustainable partner for customers and business partners. We also see this as an aid to ensure the integrity of our behaviour in the long term. For us, this principle stands above all else:

Everyone can trust our values, which have been legally and ethically impeccable for years and will remain so in the future.

Our employees and our business partners can trust our values. This is what the management of Digital Elektronik stands for.

Laws

Digital Elektronik does not tolerate any violations of the law.

In all business decisions and actions, we strive to comply with the applicable laws and other relevant provisions nationally and abroad. Dishonest reporting within the company or to non-company organizations or persons is strictly prohibited. All annual financial statements and reports, business papers and accounting records must accurately present business dealings and transactions and comply with the legal requirements and accounting principles.

Beyond the law, our employees adhere to social, religious and cultural norms and values and take them into account when working in the respective countries.

Employees

We are committed to human rights and respect them as a fundamental element in the daily coexistence of our society in general and our company in particular.

We are committed to complying with the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) agreement on the minimum age of employees, which means that we do not tolerate child labour in any way.

All employees must ensure a safe and healthy environment. Therefore, safety regulations and practices must be strictly adhered to.

Digital Elektronik condemns unlawful discrimination or harassment of any kind. Further information on the subject can be found in the current version on the intranet under “Rules of Conduct”.

This also includes the rejection of discrimination in the workplace based on gender, age, nationality, race, skin colour, ethnicity, religion, creed, social status, origin, marital status, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability.

Corruption

We are firmly against corruption and bribery. Practices in which business is done by unfair means will not be tolerated. Our employees are not allowed to offer business partners or public officials any privileges, or to receive or accept any benefits from them that could impede an objective and fair business decision or even create such an appearance.

We will not offer, promise or give any bribes or other unjustified advantages to anyone – either directly or indirectly – in order to receive or retain business orders or other advantages.

Even if we are offered these, we will strictly refuse them.

Appropriate occasional gifts, customary hospitality or other benefits of little value, where influencing the business or an official decision is excluded from the outset, are only permitted in accordance with the respective national legal provisions.

Offering, granting, demanding or accepting amounts of money is always prohibited.

Competition

Integrity and honesty promote fair competition, also in relation to our customers and suppliers. We see it as our duty to act in an economically, socially and environmentally conscious manner and we therefore strive to conduct our business competently and ethically, and to protect fair competition in all areas in which we operate by adhering to applicable laws on cartel prohibitions, competition, and restraints of competition. Unfair advantages over customers, suppliers or competitors will not be tolerated.

As a result, we as a company and our employees will not participate in anti-competitive, monopolistic or unfair business practices. Examples of this would be price fixing, sham offers (collusive bidding), setting production restrictions or quotas, dividing or subdividing the market by assigning customers, suppliers, territories or business areas, boycotting, illegal retention, illegal price discrimination or other agreements that may suppress or restrict competition.

We also reject any form of pooling.

If we come into contact with competitors, whether intentionally or unintentionally, we will avoid receiving or providing information that allows conclusions to be drawn about our market behaviour or about another market participant.

Property

All employees are obliged to ensure a quick and smooth exchange of information within the company. Information must be passed on accurately and completely to the affected areas, unless there are overriding interests in exceptional cases, in particular due to confidentiality obligations. Relevant knowledge must not be unlawfully withheld, falsified or selectively passed on.

Furthermore, all employees are responsible for the proper and careful handling of Digital Elektronik property. Every employee is obliged to protect property against loss, damage, misuse, theft, embezzlement or destruction. Every employee has a duty to inform their supervisor immediately about any use of assets that is contrary to the above.

Much of the business information is confidential or legally protected, so there is a duty of confidentiality. This does not apply if publication of the information has been approved or is mandatory due to laws or regulations.

This duty of confidentiality applies in particular to intellectual property. This includes trade secrets, patents, trademarks and copyrights, but also business plans, drafts, business papers, salary data and all other unpublished financial data and reports.

All personal information about employees, customers, business partners and suppliers, as well as other third parties, is used carefully at Digital Elektronik and treated confidentially in full compliance with data protection laws. The utmost care is taken to protect this information.

Separation of interests

We expect loyalty to the company from our employees. All employees must avoid situations in which their personal or financial interests could conflict with those of Digital Elektronik. It is therefore particularly forbidden to invest in competitors, suppliers or customers, or to enter into business relationships with them in a private environment, insofar as this could lead to a conflict of interest. Conflict situations must not affect the interests of Digital Elektronik.

Such conflicts of interest may arise in many situations: No employee may accept benefits – in whatever form – which, from a reasonable point of view, could be assumed to influence business decisions. Invitations must keep within the limits of normal business hospitality. Employees should not gain direct and/or indirect benefits personally, due to their position, through access to confidential information. All employees have a duty to promote the legitimate interests of Digital Elektronik as much as possible. Any situation that may lead to competing with the company must be avoided.

All decisions are made exclusively on an informed basis and according to the principle of objectivity. Secondary employment shall have no influence on duties within Digital Elektronik.

Sustainability

Digital Elektronik and all of its employees attach great importance to preventing negative impacts on the environment and society in the course of their business activities. This enables us to ensure in the long term that we can continue to operate successfully in an ecologically sound environment and that our employees and their families enjoy a healthy working and living environment.
In addition to avoiding unnecessary waste, we also strive to reduce energy consumption and rely on renewable energies.