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To Our Employees, Officers and Directors:
Ethical business practices provide a critical
foundation for our success and protect our reputation in
the industry and community. Integrity in the manner in which
we manage and operate Winland Electronics, Inc. ("Winland"
or the "Company") is a key element in our corporate
culture. We place a high value on honesty, fair dealing
and ethical business practice.
The following Code of Ethics and Business
Conduct is designed to help you understand what Winland
expects of its employees, officers and directors. It does
not cover every ethical issue, but the basics are here to
help your general understanding. For employees, compliance
with the Code is a condition of employment. This Code supplements
and does not replace or modify the Company's other policies
or procedures, including provisions of Winland's current
Employee Handbook and other statements of policy or procedure
issued from time to time.
Ethical behavior is everyone's responsibility.
You must show that responsibility by
- Knowing and complying with the requirements
and expectations that apply to your job, which includes
following this Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.
- Promptly reporting suspected violations
of law or the Code.
- Cooperating with any investigation
of a potential ethics or business conduct violation.
- Seeking assistance when you have questions
about Winland's Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
or when faced with a challenging ethical situation.
- Never acting unethically, even if
directed by another person to do so.
- Never retaliate against an individual
because that individual has reported a suspected violation
of the Code.
If a potential course of action seems questionable,
please seek guidance from your supervisor or our Compliance
Officer (currently Myron Dummer). We encourage open communications
regarding the possible violation of Winland's ethical principles
and business practices.
Lorin Krueger, President and Chief Executive
Officer
Introduction
Winland's guidelines for business
conduct flow from our Vision, Mission, Core Values and
Core Ideologies. These key elements are of the utmost
importance for the proper conduct and respect for all individuals
in the quest for common prosperity.
VISION
Stepping up to the future together.
MISSION
Winland Electronics is dedicated
to providing creative, high quality electronic products
and services for a changing world.
CORE VALUES
PEOPLE
Winland Electronics views people as its most
valued resource and bases all human interaction on dignity
and respect.
INTEGRITY
Winland is committed to doing the right
thing.
QUALITY
Winland Electronics is committed to providing
our business partners with products, services, and support
that exceeds their expectations.
INNOVATION
Winland uses enthusiasm, creativity and innovation
for setting and achieving goals.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Winland Electronics is committed to fiscal
responsibility to benefit our employees, shareholders and
community.
CORE IDEOLOGIES
Winland core ideologies are the stories, historical
record and legends that create a word picture of the company.
Ideology # 1:
The organization, at all levels, demonstrates
a positive, aggressive, can do persistence to perform at
the highest standard of excellence.
Ideology # 2:
Everyone works in superior working conditions.
Ideology # 3:
Customers believe that Winland designs, engineers
and produces results that benefit them specifically.
Ideology # 4:
People are valued:
- Management believes in its workers.
- Loyalty exists between customers and the
company as well as management and workers.
- Trust in other people is demonstrated
in many ways.
- People listen to each other.
Ideology # 5:
An outstanding benefits package provides for
employee economic security.
Ideology # 6:
Pride is demonstrated everywhere in the organization:
- It appears in the people that are hired.
- It appears in the skills that are inherent
in new employees.
- It appears in the competence of work done
by each employee.
- It appears in the high expectations management
has of its employees, and employees have of the management.
Ideology # 7:
Recognition occurs for quality performance.
Ideology # 8:
The company is innovative throughout.
Ideology # 9:
Reasonable, well-researched risks are commonplace.
Ideology # 10:
There is significant emphasis on the protection
of stockholder investment.
Ideology # 11:
Education and promotion opportunities are
always available to those who choose to pursue them. People
who desire to learn and grow are rewarded.
Winland is committed to complying
with all laws and regulations where we conduct our business
activities. The Company expects every employee to know the
laws and policies that apply to their Winland activities,
and to conduct them with uncompromising honesty and integrity.
Some business activity is
not governed by any law, and some laws and regulations set
standards far below the expectations of our company. In
these situations, an employee should be able to answer "yes"
to the following questions before taking action:
- Is this action the "right thing
to do"?
- Would this action withstand public scrutiny?
- Will this action uphold Winland's reputation
as an ethical company?
If the answers are not an
unqualified "yes," we don't do it.
No corporate code can cover
every possible question of business conduct. When in doubt
ask before you act.
Compliance with Laws
and Winland Code of Conduct
All Winland officers, employees and directors
are expected and directed to comply with all laws and Winland's
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.
Each employee, officer and
director has an obligation to behave according to ethical
standards that comply with Winland's policy, and the letter
and spirit of applicable laws, rules and regulations. It
is everyone's responsibility to know and understand legal
and policy requirements as they apply to his or her Company
responsibilities.
Employees, officers and
directors should promptly report all known or suspected
violations of applicable law or Winland's ethical principles
to his or her supervisor or Myron Dummer, our Compliance
Officer. Or, as an alternative, he or she may call the Compliance
Hotline at 1-877-888-0002, an independent provider, to report
suspected violations or incidents that he or she believes
do not meet Winland standards.
Accuracy of Company Records
Each officer and employee
must help maintain the integrity of Winland's financial
and other records.
Management,
directors, audit committee members, shareholders, creditors,
governmental entities and others depend on Winland's business
records for reliable and accurate information. Winland's
books, records, accounts and financial statements must appropriately
and accurately reflect Winland's transactions and conform
to applicable legal requirements and Winland's system of
internal controls. In particular, Winland is committed to
full, fair, accurate, timely and understandable disclosure
in all reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) and in other public communications, and each person
subject to this Code is required to provide truthful, complete
and timely information in support of this commitment.
There is no excuse for participating
in the creation of or not reporting a deliberately false
or misleading Winland record. In addition, an employee,
officer or director must not destroy, alter, falsify or
cover up documents with the intent to impede or obstruct
any investigation of suspected wrongdoing.
Directors, officers and employees
must not participate in any intentional misstatement of
Winland's accounts, and they must avoid improper influence
on the conduct of an audit. No circumstances justify the
maintenance of "off-the-books" accounts. All arrangements
or requisition contracts under which funds are disbursed
shall accurately state the purposes for which these funds
are paid and shall not be misleading.
Business records and communications
often become public and you are expected to avoid exaggeration,
derogatory remarks, guesswork or inappropriate characterizations
of individuals or companies that could be misunderstood.
This obligation applies in any communication, including,
but not limited to e-mail, internal memoranda and formal
reports. Records are expected to be retained or destroyed
according to Winland's record retention policies. In the
event of litigation or governmental investigation you are
expected to consult Winland's legal counsel concerning the
records you hold.
Securities Trading Policies
Never trade securities on
the basis of confidential information acquired in the course
of your Winland duties or while you are at the workplace.
There are times when employees,
officers or directors possess information about the Company,
its subsidiaries or affiliates or about a company with which
Winland does business that is not known to the investing
public. Such insider information may relate to, among other
things, strategies, plans of Winland, new products or processes,
mergers, acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or securities,
problems facing the Company, sales, profitability, negotiations
relating to significant contracts or business relationships,
significant litigation or financial information.
If any information is of the
type that a reasonable investor would consider important
in reaching an investment decision, the Company employee,
officer or director who possesses such information must
not buy or sell Company securities, nor provide the information
to others, until such information becomes public. Use of
material, non-public information in the above manner is
not only illegal, but also unethical. Employees who directly
or indirectly involve themselves in illegal insider trading
will be subject to immediate termination by the Company,
and an individual convicted of insider trading may face
criminal penalties of up to ten years in prison and/or a
$1,000,000 fine.
All employees, officers and
directors must also read, become familiar with and comply
with the Company's "Policy Statement on Confidential
Information and Securities Trading by Winland Electronics
Personnel", Winland Document Number, D-013-0026 (employees)
and D-013-0028 (Directors and Officers).
Insider trading law is far
from clear. An employee, who is unsure how the law applies
in a given instance, should ask before he or she trades.
All questions should be referred to Jennifer Thompson, CFO,
or Linda Annis, Manager of Administration, at 507-625-7231.
Contact with Government Officials
Winland complies with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to lobbying
or attempting to influence government officials.
Bribery,
kickbacks or other improper or illegal payments have no
place in Winland's business. In addition, information provided
to governments must be accurate and interactions with government
officials must be honest and ethical. All activities that
might constitute lobbying or attempts to influence government
officials must first be reviewed with and approved by legal
counsel.
Before doing business with
foreign, national, state or local government, an employee
or officer must know the applicable rules. An employee who
is in doubt, must not make the mistake of interpreting the
rules by him or herself. Such an employee must discuss the
matter with his or her supervisor or other officer of the
Company.
Conflicts of Interest
Each employee, officer and
director must avoid situations in which his or her personal
interests conflict with or interfere with Winland's interests.
Each employee and officer
owes Winland a duty of loyalty. Employees and officers must
make business decisions solely in the best interests of
Winland. Conflicts may arise when an employee or officer
receives improper personal benefits as a result of the person's
position with the Company or gains personal enrichment through
access to confidential information. A conflict situation
can also arise when an employee or officer takes actions
or has interests that may make it difficult to perform his
or her Winland work objectively and effectively. For that
reason, all employees and officers must exercise great care
not to allow their personal interests to potentially conflict
with Winland's interests. Each employee and officer shall
act with honesty and integrity, avoiding actual or apparent
conflicts of interest between personal and professional
relationships.
Winland employees are generally
free to engage in outside activities of their choice. It
is important, however, that such activities do not adversely
affect Winland's business, involve misuse of Winland position
or resources, divert for personal gain any business opportunity
from which Winland may profit or constitute a potential
source of discredit to the Winland name. The following is
a non-exhaustive list of examples of prohibited conflicts
of interest for employees and officers of Winland:
- Consulting with or employment in any
capacity with a competitor, supplier or customer of
Winland.
- Having a substantial equity, debt, or
other financial interest in any competitor, supplier
or customer.
- Having a financial interest in any transaction
involving the purchase or sale by Winland of any product,
material, equipment, services or property.
- Misusing Winland's confidential or proprietary
information, including the unauthorized disclosure or
use of such information
- Using materials, equipment or other assets
of Winland for any unauthorized or undisclosed purpose.
- Receiving loans or guarantees of obligations
from the Company without Board of Director authorization.
Directors also owe Winland
a duty of loyalty. The duty of loyalty mandates that the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders take
precedence over any interest possessed by a director not
shared by the shareholders generally. In the event that
a conflict (or the appearance of a conflict) arises or is
anticipated, directors must bring the matter to the attention
of the Chairman of the Audit Committee or, if a conflict
involves the Chairman of the Audit Committee, to the attention
of the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee.
Political Contributions and Related Policies
Generally Winland's funds
or resources may not be used to make a political contribution
to any political candidate or political party.
Exceptions to this basic policy
are allowed only where such contributions are permitted
by law and permission is granted in advance by the Company's
Chief Executive Officer, Compliance Officer or Board of
Directors. Company policy does not permit the use of any
Company facilities or resources by employees for political
campaigning, political fundraising or partisan political
purposes. A decision by an employee to contribute any personal
time, money or other resources to a political campaign or
political activity must be totally voluntary.
Transacting International Business
Managers and employees of
Winland and any affiliates doing business around the world
must abide by special laws and regulations which apply to
the import and export of products and technical data, as
well as the conduct of business with non-U.S. entities.
Winland personnel also must
comply with anti-boycott and international embargo regulations
in all locations where Winland does business. The U.S. Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act prohibits payments, gifts or contributions
to officials or employees of any foreign government or government-owned
business for the purpose of getting or retaining business.
In addition, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act requires
Winland to maintain accurate and complete financial books
and records.
Business Courtesies and
Gratuities
Winland's policy is not
to offer or accept kickbacks or bribes, or gifts of substantial
value.
Winland employees, officers
and directors may only exchange non-monetary and modestly-valued
gifts that promote goodwill with our business partners and
do not improperly influence others. We will accept only
approved and widely available discounts and do not encourage,
accept or exchange gratuities or payments for providing
services to others.
Business courtesies such as
meals, transportation and entertainment provided to a customer
must be modest in amount and related to a legitimate business
purpose (e.g., explanation or demonstration of Winland products,
application of products, service capabilities, or training).
Such courtesies must not violate the law, regulations, or
reasonable customs of the market-place. If you have any
question about whether any business courtesies, gratuities
or gifts are appropriate, please contact your supervisor
or other Winland officer.
Company Opportunities
Do not use a Company opportunity for
personal gain.
Employees, officers and directors
owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate interests
when the opportunity to do so arises. Employees, officers
and directors are prohibited (without the specific consent
of the Board of Directors or an appropriate committee thereof)
from (1) taking for themselves personal opportunities that
are discovered through the use of company property, information
or their position, (2) using company property, information
or their position for personal gain, or (3) competing with
the Company directly or indirectly.
Intellectual Property and
Confidential Information
Winland invests substantial
resources in developing proprietary intellectual property
and confidential information.
Confidential information is
information that is not generally known or readily available
to others. It includes non-public information that might
be of value to competitors if it were disclosed. It must
not be shared with others outside Winland except pursuant
to approved business relationships or when required by law.
Confidential information includes, but is not limited to,
intellectual property and trade secrets, business plans
and information, any and all product information, marketing
and sales programs and information, customer and prospective
customer information and lists, pricing information and
policies, financial information, and any other information
which the Company deems confidential.
Every Winland employee, officer
and director is obligated to protect the Company's confidential
information as well as that of its customers, suppliers
and third parties who disclose information to Winland in
confidence. Winland employees, officers and directors must
not accept confidential information from a third party,
including competitors, unless specifically authorized to
do so by an authorized supervisor or officer of the Company
and following an appropriate grant of rights from such third
party.
Protection and Proper Use
of Company Assets
Our shareholders trust us
to manage Company assets appropriately.
Collectively, employees, officers
and directors have a responsibility for safeguarding and
making proper and efficient use of the Company's assets.
Each of us has an obligation to prevent the Company's property
from loss, damage, misuse, theft, embezzlement or destruction.
We seek to ensure that the Company equipment, supplies and
other assets are used for legitimate business purposes unless
otherwise specifically authorized, and to protect all tangible
and intangible Company property.
Fair Dealing with Competitors,
Customers and Suppliers
Respect the rights of competitors,
customers and suppliers.
Winland's success depends
on building productive relationships with our customers
and suppliers based on integrity, ethical behavior and mutual
trust. In addition, customers have individual needs and
expectations representing unique opportunities for mutual
success.
The Company bases its supplier
relationships on fundamental concepts of integrity, fairness,
and mutual respect.
Winland strives to outperform
its competition fairly and honestly. Winland seeks and develops
competitive advantages through superior performance, not
through unethical or illegal business practice. Each Company
employee, officer and director should endeavor to deal fairly
with the Company's customers, suppliers and competitors.
No one should take unfair advantage through manipulation,
concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation
of material facts or any other intentional unfair dealing.
Personal Behavior in the
Workplace
Winland is committed to providing equal
opportunity in employment and will not tolerate illegal
discrimination or harassment.
Winland strives to enhance
and support the diversity of its employee group. All are
expected to deal with each other in an atmosphere of trust
and respect in a manner consistent with Winland's core values.
Winland may monitor personal
internet traffic for the purpose of compliance with its
Telephone and Computer Policy which also fosters an atmosphere
of trust and respect. Please refer to applicable portions
of our Employee Handbook for guidance related to personal
behavior in the workplace.
Environmental Compliance
Winland will conduct business
at all times in compliance with appropriate environmental
laws and regulations. It is Winland's policy to operate
its facilities in a manner which protects the employees,
the public and the environment.
Public Disclosure of Code
and Waivers
The existence and content
of this Code of Ethics and Business Conduct will be disclosed
to shareholders and may be available on the Company's website.
It is expected that waivers of this Code rarely, if ever,
would be acceptable. Any waiver of a provision of this Code
for executive officers or directors may be granted only
by the Board of Directors, with only the independent members
voting, or an appropriate Board Committee consisting of
independent directors, and such waiver must be promptly
disclosed to shareholders.
Accountability for Adherence
to the Code
Each employee, officer and
director must accept responsibility for adherence to this
Code. Violations of this Code may lead to serious sanctions
including, for an employee, discipline up to and including
immediate termination, in the sole discretion of the Company.
The Company may, in addition, seek civil recourse against
an employee, officer or director and/or refer alleged criminal
misconduct to law enforcement agencies.
Reporting Any Suspected
Illegal or Unethical Behavior
Winland maintains an
open door policy and an anonymous telephone hotline for
employees to raise concerns and to encourage the reporting
of suspected violations of law or the Code of Ethics and
Business Conduct without fear of retribution or retaliation.
If you have questions about
an ethical situation, you are encouraged to talk with your
supervisor or with our Compliance Officer about any behavior
you believe may be illegal or unethical. You will be assured
confidentiality, to the limit of the law. If you do not
feel it is appropriate to discuss the issue with these persons,
Winland has established a hotline so that you can report
concerns or potential violations anonymously (see below).
Anonymous callers should supply detailed information to
address the concern.
You may also refer to our
Employee Handbook for reporting procedures when questions
or potential violations arise that are not related to Winland's
financial and accounting practices.
It is against the Company's
policy to retaliate against any employee, officer or director
for good faith reporting of suspected violation of this
Code. If you feel you have been retaliated against for raising
your good faith concerns, you should immediately contact
your supervisor, our Compliance Officer or the Compliance
Hotline.
COMPLIANCE HOTLINE
Toll-free and anonymous 1-877-888-0002
Coordination with Other
Winland Policies
The provisions of this Code
of Conduct are in addition to, and do not modify, replace
or supersede, Winland's other policies or procedures including,
but not limited to, those policies and procedures set forth
in Winland's Employee Handbook and Winland's other statements
of policy or procedure, whether written or oral.
Additionally, this Code of
Conduct is not intended to be and does not constitute a
contract of employment between Winland and its employees.
If you are an employee and you do not have an Employment
Agreement with Winland, you are an employee at-will. This
means that you have the option of resigning from your employment
at any time, for any reason or no reason, with or without
prior notice. Conversely, Winland has same option to terminate
your employment at any time, for any reason or no reason,
with or without prior notice.
Monitoring
Winland will periodically
reaffirm its commitment to compliance with the Code of Ethics
and Business Conduct.
Winland intends to conduct
periodic training sessions regarding the Code. In addition,
Winland will periodically distribute copies of the Code
and the Certification of Compliance card to each employee,
officer and director to remind such persons of the contents
of the Code as well as to reestablish their commitment to
compliance with it.
Please make sure you return
your
Certificate of Compliance.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
This Certificate must
be read and signed by all employees, officers and directors.
I certify that I have
received, read and understood Winland's Code of Ethics and
Business Conduct. I understand what types of conduct violate
these policies. I agree to comply with the terms of the
Code and understand that if I am an employee, violation
of these terms may result in discipline up to and including
immediate termination of employment in the discretion of
Winland.
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