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ARTICLE · 02 JULY 2021

Cracking The Code – A Few Key Considerations For Developing Codes Of Conduct

McMillan LLP
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Codes of Conduct ("Code") are an important tool for companies to mitigate legal and reputational risk by promoting ethical and responsible conduct of their employees.

CanadaInternational Law
Peter Jarosz
Peter Jarosz
Chris Scheitterlein
Chris Scheitterlein
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Codes of Conduct ("Code") are an important tool for companies to mitigate legal and reputational risk by promoting ethical and responsible conduct of their employees. Aside from serving as a marketing tool to demonstrate good governance to external stakeholders, Codes also offer an opportunity to define a company's mission, its values and core principles concerning the conduct of its business.

The need for a Code and other policies and procedures within a company is becoming increasingly apparent as regulatory authorities are imposing stricter compliance requirements to foster responsible business conduct by companies operating at home and abroad. Companies are also ramping up their Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") initiatives as this area becomes ever more relevant for investors in a post-pandemic world. For example, the recent announcements by the Government of Canada1 regarding human rights abuses in the Xinjiang Region of China are indicative of the

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The foregoing provides only an overview and does not constitute legal advice. Readers are cautioned against making any decisions based on this material alone. Rather, specific legal advice should be obtained.

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