A leader in fiber optics, Verizon offers phone, Internet, TV, wireless and service bundles to residential, business, government and wholesale clients.We hold our people accountable for acting in accordance with our core values and making the right decisions. To carry this responsibility, our people need to know the rules and have the tools and training to act with integrity. Customers and shareowners need to know that we are responsive to their concerns and conduct our business in a fair and transparent way. Our systems must evolve to address emerging issues in the dynamic online environment in which we operate.
And although we have made significant progress, we recognize that we need to continue integrating corporate responsibility into our decision-making frameworks and engaging our stakeholders.
All employees were trained on revised content in the Verizon Code of Conduct. An updated Code was released in 2010 with revised guidelines on gifts and entertainment, Internet practices and rules on conflicts of interest that apply to employees’ activities outside of Verizon. The revisions also reflected updates to our privacy policy and new guidelines for maintaining integrity and fairness in the sales process.
Verizon strives to promote a mutually beneficial business relationship with its suppliers based on the highest standards of ethical conduct. Our Supplier Code of Conduct outlines Verizon’s expectations of its vendors to conduct business with integrity and respect.
Verizon relies on a number of groups to manage corporate responsibility activities across the company. Our Corporate Responsibility Executive Council was established in 2007 to establish benchmarks and goals, assign and enforce accountability and track results for corporate responsibility initiatives.
The Corporate Responsibility Executive Council reports directly to the chairman and chief executive officer and is co-chaired by Virginia Ruesterholz, president of Verizon Services Operations and Thomas J. Tauke, executive vice president of Public Affairs, Policy & Communications. The council includes senior leaders from all operating units and several corporate officers.
Verizon provides resources to help employees raise questions or concerns and get information about ethical matters, policies, procedures and applicable laws. The resources include:
Verizon was among the first companies to provide accessibility technology, opening our first Center for Customers with Disabilities in 1992.
We updated our privacy policy in June 2009 (verizon.com/privacy), providing an easy-to-read, one-stop place for information about how Verizon collects, uses and protects customer and Web site visitor information.
We’ve also made it easier for customers to give us their preferences on using personal information for marketing purposes. And we’ve provided easy access to tools that help people protect the privacy and keep their families safe online (e.g., creating safe passwords, recognizing phishing e-mails).
Our efforts led to Verizon being ranked No. 2 nationally in 2009 as one of the most trusted companies for privacy. Verizon was the only telecommunications company or cable provider to make the list.
