Code Corner
Who Can You Call?
By Alan Leibowitz, director of Corporate Compliance Programs & Security
Every day, we face ethical issues in our personal and professional lives. Often, discussing the issue with those we trust helps us reach the best decision.
At ITT Industries, the local "Points of Contact" listed in the ITT Industries Code of Corporate Conduct are usually the first choice to assist with compliance questions. However, when the issue requires outside assistance we have a worldwide team of Ombudspersons who can obtain confidential answers to questions and ensure that the concerns raised are evaluated and addressed.
To help you remember how to contact these people, a wallet card with both the management company Ombudspersons' and travel emergency assistance telephone numbers has been prepared. It is designed to provide you with contact information you might need in an emergency while away from your facility or to help you deal with a Code concern.
The new card replaces the SOS cards some employees already have. Cards will be distributed at many locations in the near future. If you do not get one, go to http://info.itt.com and print one from the web. Translated copies will be available from the same location in April. 
The following bullets describe how best to use the card. In all cases, these numbers are intended to be used when you need assistance not immediately available from your Value Center.
Ombudspersons
- Our "Code of Corporate Conduct" provides points of contact to address compliance concerns. Your local and management company ombudspersons are one of your options and they are trained to assist you in difficult situations.
- Please use a pen to write your local ombudsperson on the card. If you do not know who your ombudsperson is you can ask your HR representative or look on the website listed on the card.
Emergency Contacts
- SOS International is an ITT contractor that can provide travel emergency services. While their services are primarily intended for business travel emergencies, many of their services can be of assistance to you during personal travel outside of your home country. The SOS website listed on the card provides country-by-country medical, safety, and cultural information.
- The SOS telephone numbers for the Americas, Europe/Africa and Asia/Pacific can be used by any employee who encounters a medical, safety or security travel emergency.
- The ITT internal telephone number should only be used after contacting SOS or for emergencies SOS cannot address.
- In order to best protect ITT employees, all travel to countries where significant safety, security or medical concerns exist must be approved by Management Company Presidents. The card details where to get more information on these "Travel Approval Requirements."
Working for Your Boss Outside of ITT
I
noticed my supervisor is really concerned about the cost of some electrical work he needs to have done on his home. I enjoy this sort of home repair and would like to offer to do them for him. Of course I wouldn't charge him anything. Would that be OK under ITT's Code of Corporate Conduct?
Answer: No. While we encourage team building and positive interaction we must be careful to avoid the perception of an improper relationship between supervisors and managers and anyone in their reporting chain or whose career or compensation they can potentially influence. It is difficult to manage someone when a strong personal or non-ITT business relationship develops.
As a general rule, supervisors and managers should not ask or allow such employees to perform paid or unpaid work for them outside of ITT. Such a relationship creates a potential conflict of interest and can lead to charges of favoritism where none exists. Examples that have caused difficulty in the past are: home repairs, personal legal or accounting work, babysitting and errands unrelated to ITT business.
If you have questions about a particular set of circumstances, contact your HR department for specific guidance. Or send your question to codecorner@itt.com.