Integrity is the cornerstone of the way we do business at Textron. Our adherence to a strict standard of ethical behavior is not only the right thing to do but has earned us the trust and respect of our customers, shareholders, employees and the communities where we live and work.
All Textron employees - regardless of position or title - are accountable for safeguarding and furthering the high ethical standards associated with our company in the global marketplace. Adherence to our policies and the laws and regulations of each country within which we conduct business is expected. Our values of integrity, respect, trust and the pursuit of excellence are the foundation of our culture of responsible and ethical behavior.
For more than 30 years, Textron’s Ethics and Compliance Program has provided a road map and resources for our employees and has continued to evolve with changes in our business and regulations. The Program requires each of our business units to assess ethics and compliance risks annually and, based upon changes in the business, the operating environment and other factors, prepare annual risk-based Ethics and Compliance Action Plans which include action steps for risk mitigation. A variety of rigorous processes, ongoing monitoring, audits to detect violations, self-assessments by each Textron business unit and other performance checks are in place to ensure we are on the right course. Where appropriate, we incorporate lessons learned from these performance checks into our Ethics and Compliance Actions Plans and use them to otherwise improve our Program.
Oversight of Textron’s Ethics and Compliance Program resides at the highest levels of the organization. The Textron Steering Committee on Corporate Ethics and Compliance Program is responsible for oversight and review of the Program as well as its implementation and effectiveness. The Committee meets quarterly, and its members include Textron’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Executive Vice President, Human Resources. The Committee is chaired by the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Textron Inc., who also reports to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors on legal, ethics and compliance matters at each Audit Committee meeting.
Textron's Business Conduct Guidelines reflect our philosophy and best practices in providing ethics and compliance guidance. Our Business Conduct Guidelines apply to our Board of Directors and every Textron employee around the world. They define our values and our code of conduct and point the way for all of us.
In 2018, Textron conducted a confidential, enterprise-wide survey targeted primarily to our administrative, professional and management employees (which represent more than half of our workforce) to measure our efforts in creating and sustaining a culture of compliance.
When asked if the company expects them to conduct Textron business with high ethical standards and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, 99% of responding employees agreed.