Ethics

2023 Global Impact Report

Building better futures

Our Global Principles of Business Conduct (“Global Code”) outline Deloitte’s ethical commitments and expectations of our 457,000 Deloitte people globally, giving the organization a strong foundation built upon indelible principles. At Deloitte, we have placed ethical culture and values at the heart of our agenda, and we understand the critical responsibility Deloitte has to build trust and serve the public interest. Driving a proactive approach to ethics, and building and sustaining a culture of integrity, helps Deloitte people make the most appropriate professional decisions.

The Deloitte Global Ethics team and Deloitte firms’ Ethics officers continue to work closely with senior Deloitte leaders to build and enhance the organization’s ethics program. The following codes and policies are foundational to the ethics program, in setting clear expectations:

• The Global Code and Deloitte firms’ codes of conduct, which provide additional local guidance, detailed expectations, consultation channels, links to policies and guidelines, and further support for Deloitte people;
• A global ethics policy that sets out the requirements for Deloitte firms’ ethics programs, along with an Ethics Officer Playbook, to set clear expectations and reinforce the strategic role and responsibilities of Deloitte firms’ Ethics officers;
• A global anti-discrimination and anti-harassment (including discrimination on the grounds of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation, and sexual harassment) policy that sets out the requirements for Deloitte firms’ own individual policies, subject to local laws. The global policy requires anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training for all Deloitte people upon joining and every two years thereafter;
• A global familial and intimate personal relationships policy that sets out the requirements for Deloitte firms’ own individual policies and processes, subject to local laws, designed to help ensure that working relationships are, and are perceived to be, objective, fair, and at arm’s length, and to mitigate real or perceived conflicts of interest; and
• A global non-retaliation policy that articulates Deloitte’s commitment to a non-retaliatory workplace, with monitoring procedures to support this.

Training, consultation channels, support activities, and review programs are also core elements of the ethics program, in helping Deloitte people understand and apply these expectations. These include:

• Ethical due diligence processes for Deloitte firm CEOs, board chairs, and other senior leaders, and enhanced expectations for firms’ boards of directors in governing ethical culture, ethical risks, and ethics program agendas;
• Deloitte ethics training programs—including online courses, classroom and virtual programs, and facilitator-led interactive case discussions—and communications campaigns. Ethics training is required for all new hires upon joining Deloitte; upon promotion to manager, senior manager, and partner (specific to their roles); and for all Deloitte people every two years. Additional ethics training is also delivered to members of the Deloitte Global Board of Directors and Deloitte firm boards on a periodic basis. This training emphasizes how boards can influence organizational ethics and the importance of setting a strong tone from the top;
• Channels for consultation and reporting ethics concerns that emphasize confidentiality and nonretaliation—directly to Ethics or Talent teams; via managers, team leaders, or managing directors, and member firm partners; or using the third-party ethics helpline Deloitte Speak Up and similar, third-party local services—that are supported by training and communications;
• Support activities—including communications, webinars, and continuing education—to facilitate the sharing of leading practices among Deloitte firm Ethics teams;
• An annual ethics survey, guidance on conduct risk assessment, and other tools to measure the effectiveness of ethics programs across Deloitte;
• An annual confirmation by Deloitte people that they have read, understood, and are following the Global Code; and
• Detailed review programs to measure and monitor compliance with the global ethics policy and drive improvement in Deloitte firm ethics programs over time.

External commitments

Further to our internal commitments, programs, and approaches—and in support of the principles of Deloitte’s Global Code—our Commitment to Responsible Business Practices, Supplier Code of Conduct, and Human Rights Statement codify Deloitte’s long-held beliefs and principles around these key areas:

• Deloitte’s Commitment to Responsible Business Practices is rooted in our Purpose—more than 175 years of making an impact that matters for our clients, people, and society. It outlines the responsible business principles we believe in and the commitments we have made. These are embedded in our policies and inform our decision-making.
• Deloitte’s Supplier Code of Conduct (“Supplier Code”) outlines our expectations of suppliers—that they support our commitment to doing not only what is good for business, but also what is good for society. The Supplier Code focuses on human rights by requiring suppliers to treat workers with dignity and respect and not subject them to demeaning conditions. This includes prohibiting child and forced labor.
• Deloitte’s Human Rights Statement is underpinned by our Shared Values that set the expectations we have for our people. We believe all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and we are committed to respecting and advancing human rights within our organization.

Multilateral initiatives

Deloitte plays a role in various external efforts to promote ethical conduct in the business world. These include:

• University of Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership. Members of the advisory board include retired Deloitte LLP (US) leaders.
• Ethics Research Center (the research arm of the Ethics and Compliance Initiative). Deloitte US is represented on its board of directors.
• The Ethics Centre (Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy). Deloitte Canada is represented on its board of directors.
• Cercle Ethique des Affaires (French European Business Ethics Network member). Deloitte France is represented.
• Center of Excellence in Ethics and Business, University La Salle of Mexico. The Center is sponsored by Deloitte Spanish-Latin America.
• ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales) Ethics Standards Committee. Deloitte UK’s Deputy Ethics Partner is a member.
• Danish Business Authority (the Danish audit regulator). Deloitte Denmark is represented on the Advisory Board (“Revisorrådet”). 
• Danish Ethics Committee of FSR – Danish Auditors. Deloitte Denmark is represented.