GCC policies are developed to assist our office staff, auditors and other interested parties to understand our policies and procedures that govern our operating processes.
GCC is committed to working with everyone in a way that provides beneficial outcomes to all GCC, auditors and clients. Also, the management team will do what is reasonably practicable to ensure people can undertake their work in an ethical, healthy and safe environment.
GCC keeps these policies current and relevant. Therefore, from time to time, it will be necessary to modify and amend some sections of the policies and procedures, or for new procedures to be added.
At Global Compliance Certification, we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of Integrity and Excellence in all aspects of our business. We believe that these principles are essential for building trust and delivering exceptional certification services to our valued stakeholders. This policy outlines our commitment to Integrity, Excellence and other important values.
Integrity serves as the foundation of our business, and we remain committed in our dedication to conducting ourselves ethically and aligning with a fundamental set of values. Our conduct is directed by a firm commitment to comply with all relevant laws and regulations. We anticipate that all employees and stakeholders will embrace these integrity principles in their interactions and decision-making procedures.
At the core of all our endeavours lies a commitment to excellence. We persistently work towards surpassing the expectations of our clients while safeguarding the welfare of our local communities and the general public. Through our company-wide commitment to excellence, we aim to provide the highest quality certification services and be recognised as a trusted business partner.
GCC recognises the importance of impartiality in delivering certification services that inspire confidence. We place great emphasis on maintaining objectivity throughout our operations. Our management team is dedicated to upholding impartiality, competence, managing conflicts of interest, ensuring confidentiality, and adhering to professional ethics in all certification activities.
We are committed to providing professional services that consistently meet and, whenever possible, exceed our clients’ requirements and expectations. To achieve this, we will:
GCC is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for all our staff and contractors. We prioritise the well-being of our employees and take necessary measures to ensure their safety, both physically and mentally.
We recognise the impact our behaviour can have on those around us. We are committed to treating all clients, staff, and contractors honestly, fairly, and objectively. We strictly avoid engaging in unfair or deceptive practices and act in accordance with our commitment to social responsibility.
By adhering to this policy, Global Compliance Certification aims to establish a strong foundation for conducting our business with integrity, delivering excellence in certification services, and promoting impartiality and social responsibility. We believe that through these principles, we can build lasting relationships with our stakeholders and contribute positively to the global compliance landscape.
GCC’s certification and assurance work is underpinned by clear principles that support trust and confidence.
Code of Conduct Policy
In Global Compliance Certification (GCC), we are dedicated to upholding a set of values and ethical standards while fulfilling the needs of our clients and serving the best interests of our communities and the general public. This policy establishes the expected conduct and responsibilities of all GCC employees and contractors acting as auditors. The policy aims to ensure professionalism, ethical behaviour, impartiality, confidentiality, and the avoidance of conflicts of interest in all audit engagements. Adherence to this policy is mandatory for all GCC auditors.
Respect and Professionalism
All auditors must respect and maintain a polite and helpful attitude towards employees, clients, and business partners of GCC.
Auditors must disclose any potential conflict of interest with GCC and its clients before accepting any job offered by the company or organisation.
Auditors must act in a trustworthy, ethical, and unbiased manner when performing their duties on behalf of GCC, GCC clients, and their interested parties, as outlined in the agreement and requested by GCC.
Auditors are expected to reply to enquiries respectfully and, if unable to provide requested information, refer the requester to the appropriate source.
Discrimination based on race, nationality, religion, political activity, gender, marital status, age, carer or family responsibilities, physical features, disability or impairment, pregnancy, breastfeeding or parental status, or sexual preference is strictly prohibited in connection with auditors’ duties.
Integrity and Ethical Conduct
Auditors must always be frank and honest, refraining from any conduct that may cause unwarranted offence or embarrassment to any reasonable person.
Auditors must comply with the requirements of relevant legislation or regulations, including but not limited to the Privacy Act 1988, Competition and Consumer Act 2010, and Work Health and Safety Act 2011 or equivalent Work Health & Safety legislation.
Auditors must not promote or represent any business interests or entities in which they have or may have an interest.
Auditors must not accept any inducement, commission, gift, or other benefits from any interested party.
Auditors must not communicate false, erroneous, or misleading information that may compromise the integrity of any audit.
Auditors are required to fully cooperate with any inquiry in the event of a complaint or alleged breach of this policy.
Impartiality and Restraint of Trade
To maintain the integrity of GCC’s auditing services and fulfil contractual obligations, auditors must adhere to the following instructions:
Introduction: When interacting with clients, auditors must explicitly introduce themselves as ‘GCC Auditor’ to establish transparency and clarity regarding their role and affiliation.
Confidentiality; Auditors must avoid discussing any other jobs or employers, such as consultancy or other certification companies, during or after the audit. Maintaining confidentiality ensures compliance with the contractual obligations of impartiality and restraint of trade.
Service or Product Offerings; Auditors must not offer any services or products to the client, either during or after the audit. This includes consulting services, recommendations, or any other form of business offerings. Adhering to this instruction preserves the impartiality and independence of the auditing process.
Neutrality: Auditors must avoid praising, recommending, or criticising any consultant or consulting firm to the client. Maintaining neutrality ensures that auditors do not unduly influence the client’s decisions or opinions, thereby upholding the principle of impartiality.
By strictly adhering to these instructions, GCC auditors demonstrate professionalism, comply with contractual obligations, and uphold the reputation and trustworthiness of GCC’s auditing services.
Impartiality Policy
This policy outlines the commitment of GCC to impartiality in providing audits and certification services. GCC recognises the importance of maintaining impartiality throughout its operations to ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of its certification services. This policy is publicly available on the GCC website and serves as a foundation for the organisation’s business practices.
Conflict of Interest
GCC acknowledges the potential for conflicts of interest to arise from the provision of certification services. We conduct a comprehensive identification, analysis, and documentation of these possibilities to ensure transparency and adherence to impartiality principles. It is important to note that not all relationships automatically imply conflicts of interest. However, GCC is committed to addressing any relationships that may pose a threat to impartiality. The organisation will document and demonstrate the measures taken to eliminate or minimise such threats. This information will be accessible to the committee responsible for safeguarding impartiality. The demonstration shall encompass all potential sources of conflicts of interest, regardless of whether they originate from within GCC or external entities.
Unacceptable Threat to Impartiality
In cases where relationships pose an unacceptable threat to impartiality, GCC will avoid providing certification services. We maintain a thorough review of potential conflicts of interest during the contract review process and when selecting the audit team. All members of the audit team are required to sign an agreement that includes a declaration of independence, ensuring confidentiality and impartiality in their roles.
Consultancy Services
GCC and any part of the same legal entity do not offer or provide management system consultancy services. This separation ensures that conflicts of interest related to consultancy activities are avoided. If a relationship between a consultancy organisation and GCC, or its employees, poses an unacceptable threat to impartiality, GCC will not engage in certification services. The relationship in question may be based on ownership, governance, management, personnel, shared resources, finances, contracts, marketing, or any other factors that could compromise the impartiality of GCC’s operations.
Certification of Certification Bodies
GCC does not certify other certification bodies for their management system certification activities. This policy ensures that the organisation maintains its independence and prevents conflicts of interest that may arise from certifying competitors or entities with similar services.
Independence and Ownership
GCC is an independent company and has a policy of not owning any other business or company, either wholly or partially. This approach reinforces the organisation’s commitment to impartiality. In instances where a relationship poses an unacceptable threat to impartiality, such as the ownership of a wholly or partially owned subsidiary by GCC or employment of GCC personnel, certification services will not be provided.
GCC is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of impartiality in its audits and certification services. This policy ensures that potential conflicts of interest are identified, documented, and appropriately addressed. By adhering to this policy, GCC aims to maintain its reputation as a trusted and impartial certification body. This policy is subject to periodic review to ensure its continued effectiveness and alignment with the organisation’s values and objectives.
Confidentiality Policy
GCC recognises the importance of safeguarding the confidentiality of information obtained or created during the performance of certification activities. This policy establishes the principles and arrangements to ensure that all stakeholders involved in GCC’s operations, including committees and external bodies or individuals acting on its behalf, adhere to strict confidentiality standards. This policy applies to all levels of GCC’s structure and emphasises the protection of sensitive information.
Confidentiality of Information
Confidentiality Agreement
Secure Handling of Confidential Information
Compliance and Enforcement
Suspending, withdrawing or reducing the scope of certification Policy
This policy outlines the activities for suspension, withdrawal, extension or reduction of the scope of certification, and the subsequent actions that will be taken by GCC. The policy is designed to ensure that certified clients of GCC continue to satisfy the requirements of the management system standard and maintain the integrity of the certification process.
Suspension and Withdrawal Procedure
GCC has documented a Suspension and Withdrawing procedure that specifies the steps to be taken for suspension, withdrawal, extension or reduction of the scope of certification. The procedure outlines the following:
Maintenance of Certification
GCC maintains certification based on the demonstration that the client continues to satisfy the requirements of the management system standard. This includes conducting surveillance or recertification audits at the required frequencies and taking effective corrective actions to identified non-conformities within the set time limit.
Public Notification of Suspended Status
GCC will publish or make publicly available the suspended status of certificates or take other measures it deems appropriate. This is to ensure that stakeholders are aware of the suspended status of the certification.
Enforceable Arrangements
GCC has enforceable arrangements with the certified client concerning conditions of withdrawal. Upon notice of withdrawal of certification, the client is required to discontinue its use of all advertising matter that contains any reference to a certified status.
Grounds for Suspension of Certification
GCC will suspend certification in cases when:
Whistleblowing Policy
At Global Compliance Certification, we strive to uphold the highest ethical and legal standards in all our operations. We have established comprehensive whistleblowing and complaint handling systems to ensure the prompt identification and resolution of any suspected or actual misconduct, improper situations, or breaches within GCC or its clients’ network. This policy outlines the procedures and protections available to auditors, technical experts, employees, contractors, and managers who wish to make a disclosure, emphasising our commitment to impartiality and the protection of whistleblowers.
Reportable Conduct refers to any suspected or actual misconduct, illegal activities, dishonesty, unethical behaviour, or improper situations related to GCC or its clients’ network. Examples of reportable conduct include, but are not limited to:
 The Board of Directors of GCC, together with the committee of safeguarding impartiality, will oversee the handling of all whistleblower reports. They will be regularly apprised of investigations and actions taken in accordance with this policy to ensure transparency and accountability.
Global Compliance Certification is dedicated to maintaining the highest ethical and legal standards across our operations. This policy on whistleblowing and complaint handling ensures that all individuals associated with GCC can confidently report any suspected or actual misconduct or improper situations. We value and appreciate the role of whistleblowers in upholding our commitment to integrity and accountability, and we will take all necessary steps.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
GCC is dedicated to maintaining a workplace that fosters equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees. This policy outlines our commitment to providing fair and unbiased treatment to individuals throughout their employment journey, from recruitment and promotions to training, remuneration, leave, and all other aspects related to employment. We strive to ensure that all employment decisions are based on merit and are free from any form of discrimination or bias.
Equal Employment Opportunity
GCC firmly upholds the principle of Equal Employment Opportunity, which ensures that all staff members and potential employees are treated equitably and fairly, irrespective of their personal characteristics or attributes. The company prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, nationality, religion, physical or intellectual disability, age, sexual preference, or any other irrelevant factors. This policy extends to all employment-related activities and benefits offered by GCC.
Merit-Based Selection
GCC is committed to a merit-based selection process that focuses on identifying the most suitable candidates for job openings, promotions, and training opportunities. Our human resource activities are guided by the merit principle, where decisions are made based on objective assessments of skills, qualifications, relevant work experience, and the ability to thrive within our organisational culture. By adhering to this principle, we aim to provide an equal chance for all individuals to apply for jobs and pursue professional growth within GCC.
Reporting Mechanism
To ensure a genuine commitment to preventing illegal and undesirable conduct, GCC maintains a reporting mechanism that allows employees and others to report concerns freely and without fear of reprisal or intimidation. We encourage the reporting of any instances of discrimination, harassment, or any other violation of this policy. Reports will be promptly and impartially investigated, and appropriate action will be taken to address the concerns raised.
Benefits of Equal Employment Opportunity
Equal Employment Opportunity offers numerous benefits to both GCC and its staff members. By identifying and eliminating direct and indirect discriminatory practices and barriers, we create an environment that is inclusive and supportive for all individuals seeking employment or advancement opportunities within the organisation. Embracing diversity and equal opportunity allows us to attract a wider pool of applicants, increasing our chances of selecting the best person for each role. Additionally, providing access to training and development opportunities promotes a more qualified workforce that is representative of the diverse customers we serve.
GCC is fully committed to maintaining a workplace that values and promotes equal opportunity for all stakeholders. This policy reaffirms our dedication to fairness, consistency, and the elimination of discriminatory practices. We believe that by adhering to the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity, we create an environment where individuals can thrive, contribute their unique perspectives, and collectively contribute to the success of GCC.
This policy applies to all employees, contractors, vendors, customers, and any other individuals associated with GCC. It is the responsibility of all stakeholders to uphold and adhere to this policy, fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment for all.
