Legal compliance
To ensure that all relevant laws are complied with, the Bertelsmann Stiftung expects its business partners to have detailed knowledge of any statutory requirements applying to their areas of activity.
The Bertelsmann Stiftung is also committed to ensuring it adheres to all applicable regulations without exception, since this is the only way a business relationship can be established based on mutual trust.
Preventing corruption and bribery
Corruption is not tolerated at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, an attitude we also expect from our business partners. The Bertelsmann Stiftung reserves the right to end any business relationship in which a business partner is found guilty of corruption – regardless of whether the activities in question pertain to the relationship with the Bertelsmann Stiftung. All donations and invitations made as part of a business relationship must comply with all legal requirements.
Communication
For the Bertelsmann Stiftung, clear and transparent communication in all areas is of critical importance. This also applies to its relationships with business partners. Only when the communication on both sides is transparent can misunderstandings be avoided and mutual trust arise. The Bertelsmann Stiftung therefore ensures that contact persons are clearly identified for each business relationship. Any potential errors or misunderstandings are addressed directly and professionally.
Ethics
The Bertelsmann Stiftung expects its business partners to acknowledge and adhere to ethical principles. This includes providing a fair and nondiscriminatory work environment for all employees, preventing any type of forced or child labor, respecting human rights and promoting employee health.
