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Ethics
A strong code of ethics is vital for establishing trust, the foundation for all successful business relationships. More than 70 years ago, TI’s founders laid this foundation by holding themselves to the highest standards of personal integrity and demanding the same of others. Today, those principles and values still permeate all of TI's activities and decisions.
As TI grew, management recognized a need to formalize and communicate company standards. In 1961, TI published our first written code of ethics, a booklet titled "Ethics in the Business of TI." Although it has been revised several times to reflect changes in the business environment, the basic message contained in that first booklet has never changed: "Do what's right."
About 20 years ago, an increasing number of difficult challenges in modern business were recognized, but clear choices of action did not always exist. Employees needed to better understand our expectations and where they could go for help if they had a question or a concern. In response, we formed the TI Ethics Office and appointed a director to oversee its programs.
David Reid is TI’s vice president and the company’s third director of ethics. He is available to employees, customers, suppliers, governments and communities to address any question of ethics, including those related to accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters.
The TI Ethics Office has three primary functions:
- To ensure that business policies and practices continue to be aligned with ethical principles.
- To clearly communicate ethical expectations.
- To provide multiple channels for feedback through which people can ask questions, voice concerns and seek resolution to ethical issues.
To help employees understand and adhere to ethical business practices, TI created three guidance documents, which are updated as needed: the TI Standard Policies and Procedures; The TI Commitment and the TI Ethics Booklet. These documents set clear expectations, and their messages are firmly and credibly supported by our highest levels of management and our board of directors. In 2008, we added gender identity and expression to our equal employment opportunity policy.
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