Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Business Conduct
Integrity | Honesty | Fairness
Spirit of Wipro
Dear Wiproites,
The updated COBC provides key details about our responsibilities and obligation
to comply with laws and Wipro’s ethical standards. It also serves as a helpful
reference tool that can guide us when we are confronted with ethical dilemmas
or questions.
It is imperative we uphold the COBC and manifest it in all our actions. This will
be a critical element that will help us shape an organizational culture with a
growth mindset. At the core of this change would be greater accountability,
deeper commitment, strong ownership, and collaboration, putting Wipro and its
success first before individual units and teams. This culture will be defined by
decisiveness, responsiveness, mutual respect, and inclusiveness.
Let us make Wipro the most preferred Company to work with – for its employees,
customers, and other stakeholders.
Rishad Premji
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Table of contents
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About our Code and
your responsibilities
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In particular: local laws conflict with the COBC or related
policies, discuss the issue with your manager
• Always act in a professional, honest, and or contact the HR manager or Ombudsperson
ethical manner when acting on behalf of for clarification.
the Company.
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Q Why are we expected to cooperate with
investigations and inquiries? I would
rather not get involved.
• Be proactive. Look for opportunities to
discuss and address ethics and ethically
challenging situations with team members.
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Making the right choice are available to help and you have other
resources to turn to including the COBC.
Making the right decision is not always easy.
There will be times when you will be under When faced with a tough ethical decision it may
pressure or unsure of what to do. Always help to pause and ask these questions. If you
remember when you have a tough choice to give a negative answer to even one question,
make, you are not alone. Your fellow Wiproites consider a different action or seek help.
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Q Our manager typically does nothing when
concerns about potential misconduct
are brought to her attention and I believe she
Wipro takes claims of retaliation seriously. All
such claims will be thoroughly investigated
and if substantiated, retaliators will be
has made things difficult for co-workers who disciplined up to and including termination.
have raised issues. Now I have a problem. A If you believe you have been retaliated
co-worker is doing something that I believe to against, you should report such action to the
be ethically wrong. What should I do? Ombudsperson or use any of the reporting
methods described in the COBC.
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Acting in the best
interest of our
customers, business
partners and the public
Wiproites know that winning and success are Advertising is an essential instrument
only possible if we consistently act in the best for effective brand building and
interests of our customers, business partners communicating with customers. We
and the public. When we make their interests strive to ensure that all advertisements
our priority, we earn and keep their trust. of Wipro’s services and products are
done ethically.
Customer relations Our advertising must never
misrepresent, deceive or be likely to
Our standard
mislead customers. Marketing and
Customers purchase our services and products advertising of Wipro services and
because they trust them. They trust the quality products must be truthful and accurate.
of our services and products, they trust their False or unsubstantiated claims about
value, and they trust that we will stand behind competitors’ offerings must never be
what we sell and deliver. We must preserve made. Our advertising, packaging,
that trust. displays and promotions must always
be appropriate and sensitive to the
Wipro has a fundamental responsibility to culture of customers and the public in
ensure that customers have faith in the quality the country in which the advertising
of our services and products. It is the primary is shown, and we will avoid political or
responsibility of every employee to make sure religious remarks in advertisements
that our services and products are consistently that may be offensive.
of the highest quality.
Our responsibilities
• Each of us must ensure that we follow our • Do not make false or illegal claims about
rigorous product safety and quality standards. competitors or their services and products.
• Any concerns about product safety or quality • Promise what you can deliver and deliver on
must be immediately reported. It is the job of what you promise.
every employee to make sure that consumers
get what they expect—and pay for. • If you are in a leadership position at Wipro, you
have an obligation to monitor the quality of
• Do not create misleading impressions in any our supply chain to ensure that the products
advertising, marketing, sales materials or we sell meet all external safety and quality
presentations. standards, as well as our own high standards.
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Protecting customer information Supplier selection
Our standard Our standard
During the course of our business operations, we Wipro’s suppliers make significant
often have access to personal information related contributions to our success. To create an
to customers and others. While protecting this environment where our suppliers have an
information may now be a legal requirement, for incentive to work with Wipro, they must be
us at Wipro, data privacy has always been a matter confident that they will be treated lawfully and
of trust and respect for others. in an ethical manner.
We respect the personal information of our Our policy is to select suppliers and make
customers and others. Protecting their privacy is purchases based on need, quality, service,
very important to us. price and other terms and conditions.
We select significant suppliers through a
Our responsibilities competitive bid process where all supplier
• Protect the confidentiality of personal relationships are conducted by way of
information of current and former customers, appropriate written contracts.
as well as job applicants, business partners We believe in doing business with suppliers
and customers. and business partners who embrace and
• Access and use personal information solely demonstrate high standards of ethical
for legitimate business purposes and only if business behaviour and who share our
you have a need to know. commitment to environmentally sustainable
practices and human rights. Wipro will not
• Return or destroy personal information that establish a business relationship with any
is no longer required by you for business supplier if its business practices violate local
reasons in accordance with our document laws and does not comply with our Supplier
retention policies. Code of Conduct.
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• Be vigilant and watch out for any signs of our It is impossible to describe every potential
business partners violating applicable law conflict, which is why Wipro relies on each of
or regulations, including local employment, us to uphold the high standard of “Unyielding
anti-corruption, environmental, health and Integrity” and to seek advice when needed.
safety laws. If you believe a conflict or potential conflict
exists, discuss it with your manager, the Legal
• Each of us who works with suppliers must & Compliance Department or HR.
make decisions in the best interest of Wipro
and our customers based on performance
criteria, not for any personal benefit or gain.
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Outside employment
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potential conflict of interest. Your manager Accepting occasional gifts and entertainment
may require you to disclose the situation may be appropriate when developing business
to your HR manager or Legal & Compliance relationships. However, they should never be
Department for appropriate resolution. lavish or in excess of the generally accepted
business practices of the country or industry.
• Proactively address situations that may put When accepting gifts, the value shall not
your interests or those of a family member or exceed our Acceptable Limit, i.e.: US$ 100
others in potential conflict with Wipro. or equivalent currency for employees in the
United States and Europe, and US$ 50 or
Gifts, entertainment & business equivalent currency for employees in the rest
courtesies of the world, per financial year.
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• Business courtesy to a third party • Government-funded organizations
when in direct business negotiation through governmental appropriations
with Wipro. or through revenues obtained as
a result of government-mandated
Accepting business courtesy
taxes, licenses, fees, or royalties
• Sponsorship/reimbursement for travel,
• Enterprises widely perceived
accommodation, sporting/recreation/
and understood to be performing
cultural events, etc., by a third party not
governmental functions
connected with a business event.
However, reasonable conveyance or
• Sponsorship/reimbursement of expenses
other facilities to government officials
for Wipro’s internal conferences by a third
is allowed where there is a legal or
party (e.g. Wipro-sponsored group events
contractual obligation on the part
or departmental conferences).
of Wipro to provide such facilities
• Business courtesy from a third party during their visits to our campus for
when in direct business negotiation inspection/audit (e.g. Special Economic
with Wipro. Zone, tax or pollution control officials).
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Q When I was traveling, I received a gift
from a supplier that I believe exceeds our
Acceptable Limit. What should I do?
If you are aware of any unauthorized
employee contact with media or
analysts, on-record or off-record,
immediately inform the Communications or
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Our responsibilities violates the COBC or its values as explained
in the “Spirit of Wipro.” In particular, do not:
• Always be mindful of Wipro’s ethical
standards and comport yourself • Spam using email or send unsolicited
professionally in all Wipro-related messages.
communications. Remember—things you
post online will be publicly available for • Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten
a long time, so before you click “Send” or or otherwise violate the legal and privacy
“Submit,” think carefully. rights of companies or people.
• Always obey any laws governing your online • Post messages which contain racially
activities. or sexually offensive material, political
or religious solicitations or anything
• Never give the impression that you are else which is inappropriate or has the
speaking on behalf of Wipro unless you are potential to cause harm to Wipro or its
authorized to do so. customers and business partners.
• Always identify yourself and be clear, when • Remember that some information or
your online activities are relevant to Wipro, statements are considered “material non-public
that the views you are expressing are your information,” “unpublished price-sensitive
own and do not represent the opinion of information” or “forward-looking statements.”
Wipro. Sharing or posting such information may be
a violation of applicable insider trading laws.
• Refrain from posting confidential non-public Examples of such information include data on
or proprietary information online. Wipro’s business performance, new markets,
• Never post any details online about Wipro’s new customers, management changes, etc.
customers or business partners, including Further information:
on professional networking sites such as Policy on Intellectual Property
LinkedIn.
Policy on Insider Trading
• Don’t use social media for any activity to
which others are likely to object, or which
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Protecting our
information and assets
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• Properly label confidential information these assets, including complying with any
to indicate how it should be handled, agreement relating to IP and confidentiality
distributed and destroyed. agreements signed upon the commencement
of or during employment.
• Protect intellectual property and confidential
information by sharing it only with authorized In addition to protecting Wipro’s own
parties. intellectual property rights, Wipro respects the
valid intellectual property rights of others.
• Never discuss confidential information
when others might be able to overhear what Our responsibilities
is being said, e.g. on planes, elevators and
when using mobile phones. • All employees are responsible for complying
with the requirements of software copyright
• Be careful not to send confidential licenses.
information to unattended fax machines or
• Employees must use proprietary material
printers.
of others only under valid license and only
Q Iam unable to complete my project at the in accordance with the terms of such a
Development Centre. Can I forward the license—this includes the use of software.
project material or email to my personal email
• Only use software that has been properly
account so that I can continue and complete
licensed in line with the usage terms and
that work from home?
conditions in the license agreement. The
A No. You cannot forward any Wipro or copying or use of unlicensed or “pirated” or
customer information to your personal “cracked” software on Company computers
email account. To do so would be a serious or other equipment to conduct Company
breach of confidentiality. business is strictly prohibited.
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Competitive/business intelligence • Do not disclose suppliers’ non-public pricing
information to third parties.
Our standard
A
• Never contact competitors to seek their No. If an employee retains competitor
confidential information. information, this can result in legal action
• Respect the obligations of others to keep by the competitor. You must promptly report
competitive information known to them as this to the Legal & Compliance Department
confidential. for appropriate action, which could include
collecting lists and destroying them or
• Do not induce or receive confidential returning them to the competitor.
information of other companies.
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Protecting personal information and • When we use third parties to provide services
the privacy of employees for us, make sure that they understand the
importance we place on privacy and that they
Our standard must uphold our standards.
Q
protecting the privacy of personal information I’m not sure what is meant by personal
and how it may be collected, shared and used information?
are becoming more common.
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Document management and
legal holds
• Do not record false sales or record them A “legal hold” suspends all document
early or late, understate or overstate known destruction procedures in order to
liabilities and assets, or defer recording preserve appropriate records under
items that should be expensed. certain circumstances, such as litigation
or government investigations. The Legal
• Make sure that financial entries are clear & Compliance Department determines
and complete and do not hide or disguise the and identifies what types of Wipro
true nature of any transaction. records or documents are required to be
• Do not maintain undisclosed or unrecorded placed under a legal hold. Every Wipro
funds, assets or liabilities. employee, agent and contractor must
comply with this requirement. The Legal
Our responsibilities & Compliance Department will notify
employees if a legal hold is placed on
• Create business records that accurately
records for which they are responsible.
reflect the truth of the underlying transaction
If employees have any questions about
or event.
this, they shall contact the Legal &
• Be as clear, concise, truthful and accurate Compliance Department.
when recording any information. Avoid
exaggeration, colourful language,
Q
guesswork, legal conclusions and derogatory At the end of the last quarter reporting
characterizations of people and their period, my manager asked me to record
motives. additional expenses even though I had not yet
• Create financial records that conform both received the invoices from the supplier and
to applicable standards of accounting and the work had not yet started. I agreed to do it,
reporting and to Wipro’s accounting policies mostly because I didn’t think it really made a
and procedures. difference since we were all sure that the work
would be completed in the next quarter. Now
• Do not sign documents including contracts I wonder if I did the right thing.
without authority. Sign only that which you
are authorized to sign and that you believe
are accurate and truthful. A No, you did not do the right thing. Costs
must be recorded in the period in which
they are incurred. The work had not started,
• Do not record or approve false or misleading and the costs had not incurred by the date
entries, unrecorded funds or assets, or you recorded the transaction. It was therefore
payments without appropriate supporting a misrepresentation and, depending on the
documentation. circumstances, could amount to fraud.
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Safeguarding company assets
Our standard Personal use of Wipro’s
To best serve our customers and shareholders, electronic communication
we all have a responsibility to use Wipro’s devices may be permitted within
assets and resources wisely and with care. the following guidelines:
All employees are responsible for using good
judgment to safeguard the tangible and • The use is reasonable.
intangible assets of Wipro, and to ensure that
• There is no incremental cost to Wipro
our assets are not misused, damaged, lost,
or such cost is minimal.
stolen or wasted.
• Charges for certain personal use of
Company assets include Wipro’s physical
telephones (e.g., long-distance calls)
facilities, property and equipment, electronic
are declared and paid up by employee.
communication devices, intellectual property,
confidential information, files and documents, • The use does not result in any illegal
as well as inventory, computer networks, activity.
and supplies.
• The use does not harm the business
Our responsibilities or reputation of the Company or
any individual associated with the
• Use Wipro assets for legitimate business
Company.
purposes.
Q
Wipro’s assets must be reported to your I brought home from office a CD
manager or HR manager. containing some customer information so
• Any suspicious act which impacts on I could work on it at home on my own computer.
productivity. I didn’t download the data and I returned the
CD to work the next day. Was that okay?
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Following the letter
and the spirit of laws
and regulations
Compliance with laws, regulations and contractual plans, important management changes,
obligations is the bedrock on which organizations commencement or termination of customer
are built. Compliance with the highest order of contracts, as well as news about the financial
governance and ethics has been a hallmark of performance of a company.
Wipro and will continue to be non-negotiable.
All our actions should pass the Triple Test: A “Unpublished price sensitive information”
is information which relates directly or
indirectly to the company, which if published
Is it legal?
or publicized is likely to materially affect the
Is it ethical?
price of securities of the Company.
Does it maintain and build our
Our responsibilities
reputation?
• Do not buy or sell securities of Wipro on the
Insider trading basis of material non-public information.
Q I’m not sure what kind of information • Know that material non-public information
is covered by the term “material includes unpublished price sensitive
Information.” What does it include? information. Such information must be
handled only on a “need-to-know” basis.
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• Employees may purchase and sell Wipro • Never disparage our competitors or their
securities, as long as they are not basing products. Do not make false or misleading
decisions on inside information and statements about them and ensure that all
defined “insiders” comply with the Code for sales and promotional efforts are free from
Prevention of Insider Trading. misrepresentations.
Further information: Code for Prevention of • Never enter into agreements with
Insider Trading competitors that affect prices they charge,
as they may constitute illegal price-fixing.
Anti-trust and fair competition • Never enter into any agreements that are in
restraint of trade, prices, quality of products
Our standard
or services or in any manner monopolize any
We believe in free and open competition part of trade or commerce by controlling
and we never engage in improper practices the supply of a product or service with the
that may limit competition through illegal intention to control its price or to exclude
and unfair means. We do not enter into competitors from the market.
agreements with competitors to engage in
• If you oversee distributors or agents who
any anticompetitive behaviour, including
sell Wipro’s products, ensure that there is
setting prices or dividing up customers,
clear written permission from Wipro before
suppliers or markets.
they engage in such activities as bundling of
As Wipro’s business interests are spread products, discounts on the market price or
across the world, Wipro may be subject to free gifts.
competition laws of various jurisdictions.
• Never initiate, discuss or encourage boycotts
Most countries have well-developed bodies
of specific products or services of customers
of law designed to encourage and protect
or suppliers.
free and fair competition. Wipro is committed
to adhering to these laws both in letter and
spirit. These laws often regulate Wipro’s
relationships with our distributors, resellers,
dealers and customers. Warning signs: Anti-trust
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Q I received sensitive pricing information from
one of our competitors. What should I do?
Anti-corruption
Our standard
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Anti-money laundering before contributions may be made and before
campaigning for or holding public office.
Our standard
Employees must always make it clear that
Anti-money laundering refers to a set of their views and actions are their own and not
laws, regulations, and procedures intended those of the Company and employees must
to prevent criminals from disguising illegally never use Wipro resources to support their
obtained funds as legitimate income. personal choice of political parties, causes
Anti-money-laundering laws and regulations or candidates.
target criminal activities including market
manipulation, trade in illegal goods, corruption Employees, agents or contractors whose work
of public funds, and tax evasion, as well as the requires lobbying communication with any
methods that are used to conceal these crimes member or employee of a legislative body or
and the money derived from them. Wipro is with any government official in the formulation
committed to complying with all anti-money of legislation must have prior written approval
laundering laws and regulations around the of such activity from the CFO, Wipro Limited.
world, as applicable to Wipro.
Examples of lobbying activities
Our responsibilities
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• Never pressure another employee, customer Further information:
or business partner to contribute to, support Policy on Gifts, Entertainment &
or oppose any political group or candidate. Business Courtesies
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Performance
through teamwork
and respect
To attract and retain talented and dynamic Towards this end, Wipro is committed to work
individuals from around the world, it is vital to in a proactive manner to eradicate child labour
have a supportive work environment, based on by actively contributing to the improvement of
mutual respect. Wipro always encourages and children’s social situation. Wipro supports the
promotes favourable employment conditions use of legitimate workplace apprenticeships,
and positive relationships between employees internships and other similar programmes
and managers, and we encourage open that comply with all laws and regulations
communication and employee development. applicable to such programmes.
Living our values helps our Company succeed, Wipro encourages its suppliers to also work
and it also creates the setting for each of towards a no child-labour policy and we
us to thrive and to reach our full potential. encourage the employment of the parents of
Following are some of the key areas where we such children to secure the existence of the
must be guided by in our commitment to the family and the education of the children.
“Spirit of Wipro.” Freedom of association
We support fundamental human rights for Wipro prohibits forced or compulsory labour
all people. We will live up to and champion including prison or bonded labour. We will not
a commitment to human rights among our tolerate physical punishment or abuse and
employees, business partners and suppliers, we are committed to ensuring that employees
and comply with the applicable laws in every enter into employment and stay on in Wipro out
country in which we operate. of their own free will.
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We also insist that our suppliers prohibit Non-discrimination
forced labour or other compulsory labour in all
of their operations. Wipro is an equal opportunity employer. We
firmly believe that a talented and diverse
Our responsibilities workforce is a key competitive advantage.
We focus on meritocracy and do not engage
• Understand relevant laws and regulations in or support discrimination in hiring,
that apply to your work, and never compensation, access to training, promotion,
intentionally engage in conduct that violates termination or retirement based on ethnic and
applicable laws and regulations. national origin, race, caste, religion, disability,
• Be alert to changes in the law or new age, gender, creed, marital status, gender
requirements that may affect your work. identity, gender expression, sexual orientation,
political orientation, protected veteran status,
• If you are in a leadership position at Wipro, or any other characteristic protected by law.
take steps to ensure that suppliers know our
standards and live up to them. We hire and promote people based on their
qualifications, performance and abilities, and
• Be vigilant and look out for any signs of provide a work environment free of any form
violation of human rights or employment laws. of discrimination or harassment. We do not
impose any recruitment fees or charges from
• Report to leadership on any supplier or
the employees we hire.
business partner who keep alternative sets
of payroll records or do not welcome audits, Our responsibilities
inspections or on-site visits.
• Treat others with respect.
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• Value ideas, opinions and perspective, that harasses another, disrupts another’s
no matter who it comes from. work performance, or creates an intimidating,
offensive, abusive or hostile work environment.
• Ensure you do a merit-based appraisal of This includes such behaviour directed towards
your team members. third parties during the course of conducting
• Review your decisions to ensure that Wipro business.
business considerations drive your At Wipro we do not tolerate:
actions.
• Threatening remarks, obscene phone calls,
• It is unwanted
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compromise our ability to work together
A Yes, it is. This type of conduct is not
tolerated, not only during working
hours but in all work-related situations
and be productive
including business trips. Tell your colleague
• Submission to such conduct is implicitly such actions are inappropriate and must be
or explicitly a term or condition for stopped, and if they continue you need to
decisions which could affect promotion, report the problem.
salary or any other job condition
A
that is unwelcome, is made a condition Under no circumstances should you give
of employment, or its continuity, or used him a “heads up.” Your friend will be given
as the basis for employment decisions the opportunity to respond to these allegations
such as sexual advancement, as a and every effort will be made to conduct a fair
factor in employment evaluations or and impartial investigation. An allegation of
as a condition for receiving any benefit sexual harassment is a very serious matter
provided by the Company. with implications not only for the individuals
• An intimidating, offensive or hostile involved but also for the Company. Alerting
work environment is created by your friend could jeopardize the investigation
unwelcome sexual advances, insulting and expose the Company to additional risk and
jokes or other offensive verbal or possible costs.
physical behaviour of a sexual nature.
A hostile work environment may Safe and healthy work environment
be created through either verbal or
nonverbal acts. Our standard
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Our responsibilities
• Each of us is responsible for acting in a way Sustainability and corporate
that protects ourselves and others. Situations citizenship
that may pose a health, safety or environmental
hazard must be reported immediately. Wipro strives for environmental
sustainability and complies with all
• Take appropriate measures to help identify, environmental laws, regulations and
assess and manage the environment impacts standards. We conduct business in a
of our existing and planned operations. way that is environmentally responsible.
Our efforts to minimize negative
• Maintain a neat, safe working environment
environmental impacts include waste
by keeping workstations, aisles and other
reduction, materials recycling and
workspaces free from obstacles, wires and
improving our energy efficiency in the
other potential hazards.
communities where we live and work. We
• Notify your manager, or Emergency demonstrate our commitment toward the
Response Team (ERT) member in your environment as a part of the IOS 14001
office immediately about any unsafe certification. With suppliers being an
equipment, or any situation that could pose integral part of our business, we expect
a threat to health or safety or damage the them to also comply with all applicable
environment. All employees have the right environmental laws and regulations.
and responsibility to stop any work they feel Wipro recognizes that corporations are
may be unsafe. socio-economic citizens and that their
objectives have to be congruent with
• Always display and swipe your personal society’s goals. We therefore understand
identification badge when entering and that it is our responsibility as a global
exiting secure areas and do not allow others citizen to assess the socio-ecological
to enter/ “tail gate” without properly swiping impact of its business activities, and to
their personal identification badges. mitigate and improve this impact, while
Do not use, possess or be under the influence simultaneously remaining committed to
of alcohol or illegal drugs or any substance inclusive economic development.
that could interfere with a safe and effective Our environmental stewardship and
work environment, or improperly use leadership in Corporate Citizenship are an
medication in any way that could diminish your integral part of our “Spirit of Wipro.”
ability to perform your job.
To accomplish this, we will expect our
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Additional resources and links
https://www.chinalawinsight.com/tags/
Anti-corruption: anti-unfair-competition-law/
THE CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT (COBC) IS INTENDED SOLELY AS AN ETHICS GUIDE. THE
LANGUAGE USED SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS CREATING A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT
BETWEEN WIPRO AND ANY PERSON. WIPRO EXPRESSLY RETAINS THE RIGHT TO UNILATERALLY
MODIFY OR AMEND THIS CODE, AT WIPRO’S SOLE DISCRETION, WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE
TO EMPLOYEES.
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Wipro Limited
Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road,
Bangalore-560 035,
India