Ethic & Compliance

We are all responsible for upholding the reputation of JOST – a company with more than 70 years of history, five strong brands and operations in over 35 countries. Lawful and responsible conduct is the foundation of the trust our customers, partners, shareholders and employees place in us.

Our Code of Conduct defines the principles that guide every employee worldwide. It is complemented by our Human Rights Policy, our Supplier Code of Conduct and our Compliance Handbook – together forming the basis of our compliance management system.

Our principles:

1. Decisions must be made solely in the interest of the company, free from personal interests or undue influence.
2. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination – whether based on ethnic origin, religion, political conviction, gender, physical constitution, appearance, age or sexual orientation.
3. Problems or tensions are to be addressed directly through open and respectful dialogue.
4. We use corporate assets responsibly and ensure they are deployed in the best interest of the company.
5. Situations that could lead to conflicts between professional duties and personal interests must be avoided.
6. Business decisions are based on sound commercial risk-benefit analyses and are documented accordingly.
7. Our success is built on quality and competence. We have zero tolerance for bribery, corruption, extortion or embezzlement.
8. The protection of and respect for every person is our priority. We reject all forms of forced labour, child labour and human trafficking.
9. We are committed to the responsible use of natural resources. At all our sites, we strive for continuous improvement in our energy and environmental performance.
10. We comply with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

The Code of Conduct cannot cover every possible situation. When in doubt, the following questions can serve as a guideline – each should be answerable with YES:

Is my decision lawful?
Is my decision in accordance with our company's rules and guidelines?
Has my decision been taken in the best interest of the company?
Is my decision free of competing personal interests?
Is my decision in keeping with my own conscience?
Could I disclose my decision publicly and transparently?
Would my decision withstand review by an independent third party?
Does my decision protect the good reputation of our company?

Employees who are unsure whether a decision or action is compliant should seek guidance from their line manager, Human Resources or the Legal Department at any time.

Openness and trust are the most effective means of preventing or limiting damage caused by misconduct.

We do not tolerate any violations of internal policies or statutory provisions, regardless of an employee's position. Violations can lead to disciplinary measures, labour law sanctions and further legal action.

JOST operates a compliance reporting system (SpeakUp) that enables employees and business partners to report potential compliance violations. The system is operated by an independent service provider, guaranteeing full anonymity. Reports can be submitted online or by telephone. All reports are taken seriously, treated with absolute confidentiality and processed by the JOST compliance organisation.

Neu-Isenburg, July 2025
JOST Werke SE

The Executive Board

Code of Conduct - Verhaltenskodex

07/2018

Anti-corruption, Anti-competitive Behavior and Human Rights Assessment

JOST works in accordance with the recommendations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, the core labor standards of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

In this context, the JOST Werke Group’s internal Code of Conduct with the requirements and voluntary ethical principles it contains together with our Human Rights Policy constitute the central elements that forms the basis of our compliance management system.

Compliance Reporting System (SpeakUp)

Follow this link to our Compliance Reporting System (SpeakUp)

Policies

These policies apply to all JOST locations worldwide and form a binding basis for labour and social relations within the Group.
They also serve as the benchmark for our relationships with suppliers and other business partners.

Human Rights Policy short version

10/2023

Human and Labor Rights Policy

01/2023

Our focus areas

Our sustainability framework is built around three pillars – each with clear targets, concrete measures and transparent reporting.

Ethic & Compliance