Code of Ethics
CODE OF BUSINESS ETHICS AND CONDUCT
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Marathon Construction Corporation is to be the contractor of choice for our customers and the employer of choice for our people; to set the highest standards for quality and safety, and to achieve a fair balance of responsibility, profitability and citizenship.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this Code of Business Ethics and Standards is to supplement Marathon’s other policies and to provide general guidance on some common ethical and legal issues you may encounter. It is the policy of Marathon Construction Corporation (sometimes referred to herein as simply “Marathon” or the “company”) to comply with all laws governing our operations and to conduct our affairs in keeping with the highest moral, legal and ethical standards.
Compliance with the law means not only following the law but conducting our business so that we will deserve and receive recognition as good and law-abiding citizens, alert to our responsibilities in all areas of good citizenship. Even where the law does not apply, certain standards of ethics and morality relate to our activities and require the same diligence and attention to good conduct and citizenship.
There is both a management and an individual obligation to fulfill the intent of this policy. Any clear infraction of applicable laws or of prevailing business ethics may subject an employee to disciplinary action, which may include reprimand, suspension, reduction in salary, demotion or dismissal depending upon the seriousness of the offense.
Moreover, disciplinary measures will apply to any supervisor who directs or approves of such actions or has knowledge of them and does not move promptly to correct them. Appropriate disciplinary measures also will apply to any supervisor who fails to carry out the management responsibility to ensure that employees are informed about this policy.
The following policy includes a number of specific directives regarding Marathon Construction Corporation’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. We urge you to review these on a regular basis so that you may incorporate them into your daily practices. If you need guidance on particular circumstances that may arise, contact your immediate supervisor, the Marathon Ethics Hotline at 619-276-4401 or by sending an email to info@marathonsd.com.
I. QUALITY & SAFETY
Marathon is committed to quality construction that meets all contractual obligations and our own safety standards. The work we perform must:
- Be made from materials of the quality
- Be properly
- Be properly identified as to nation of origin if
- Meet contract
- Meet applicable laws, regulations, and industry
- Comply with the Marathon Safety Manual and any other applicable Injury and Illness Prevention Program or safety
II. COMPETING FAIRLY
A. BID PRACTICES
The antitrust laws are designed to ensure competition and preserve the free enterprise system. They apply to all domestic transactions by United States businesses. Some of the most common antitrust issues with which an employee may be confronted are in the areas of pricing, boycotts, and trade association activity.
The following actions constitute violations of law and must not be engaged in under any circumstances:
- An agreement with one or more competitors:
- to fix prices or bid amounts at any level or to fix other terms and conditions of a bid
- to allocate customers or markets
- to fix levels of production or production quotas, or to boycott a supplier or
- Any form of bid
Because the antitrust laws are complex, employees are instructed to take special care in this area. This Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is not a substitution for legal advice. Any questions on the interpretation of the antitrust laws should be referred promptly to your supervisor.
B. CONTRACT NEGOTIATION
In negotiating contracts, be accurate and complete in all representations. The submission to a U.S. Government or other public entity customer of a proposal, quotation, or other document or statement that is false, incomplete or misleading can result in civil and criminal liability for the company, the involved employee and any supervisors who condone such a practice. In negotiating contracts with most public entities, we have an affirmative duty to disclose current, accurate and complete cost or pricing data where such data are required under appropriate law or regulation.
III. MAINTAINING ACCURATE RECORDS
A. CHARGING OF COSTS & TIMECARD REPORTING
Employees who maintain timecard records must be particularly careful to do so in a complete, accurate and timely manner. Employees working on U.S. Government and most other public entity contracts must be particularly careful to ensure that hours worked, and costs are coded to the cost code account for which they were in fact incurred. No cost may be charged or allocated to a government contract if the cost is unallowable by regulation or contract provision or is otherwise improper.
B. FINANCIAL RECORDS
The records of Marathon are maintained in a manner that provides for an accurate and auditable record of all financial transactions in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. No false or deceptive entries may be made, and all entries must contain an appropriate description of the underlying transaction. All company funds must be retained in corporate bank accounts and no undisclosed or unrecorded fund or asset shall be established for any purpose. All reports, vouchers, bills, invoices, payroll and service records and other essential data must be prepared with care and honesty.
IV. EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
A. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Marathon recognizes that its continued success depends on the development and utilization of the full range of human resources. At the foundation of this precept is equal employment opportunity.
It is the stated policy of MARATHON CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, placement, transfers and promotions will be on the basis of the qualifications of the individual for the position being filled without regard to:
- Age
- Genetic information
- Marital or registered domestic partner status
- Medical condition (including cancer or a record or history of cancer)
- Physical or mental disability (including HIV/AIDS; cancer and genetic characteristics)
- National origin or ancestry (includes language use and possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their presence in the United States is authorized under federal law)
- Race (including; but not limited to; hair texture or protective hairstyles)
- Color; Religion or creed (all aspects of religious beliefs; observance or practice; including religious dress or grooming practices)
- Sex or gender (including pregnancy; childbirth; breastfeeding and/or related medical condition)
- Gender identity or gender expression
- Sexual orientation
- Military or veteran status (including protected veterans)
- Compensation discussions
- Citizenship; and any other consideration made unlawful by federal; state or local laws.
This policy of equal opportunity pertains to all aspects of the employment relationship, including application and initial employment, promotion and transfer, selection for training opportunity, wage and salary administration and the application of service, retirement, seniority and employee benefit plan policies.
It is also the policy of the Marathon to provide employees a workplace free from any form of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment in any manner or form is expressly prohibited.
For further information, please refer to Marathon's Equal Employment Opportunity policy.
B. HIRING OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
Complex rules govern the recruitment and employment of U.S. Government employees in private industry. Prior clearance to discuss possible employment with, make offers to, or hire (as an employee or consultant) any Government employee (current and former employees if employed by Government within 1 year) must be obtained from the company President.
V. PROPER USE OF COMPANY RESOURCES
A.PROVIDING BUSINESS COURTESIES TO CUSTOMERS
The success of Marathon results from providing superior quality and timely service at competitive prices. Marathon does not seek to gain improper advantage by offering business courtesies such as entertainment, meals, transportation, or lodging to our customers. Employees, subcontractors and suppliers should never offer any type of business courtesy to a customer for the purpose of obtaining favorable treatment or advantage.
With regard to U.S. Government and other public entity customers, you may not provide or pay for any meal, refreshment, entertainment, travel, or lodging expenses or other business courtesies for a government employee (including civil service and private contractors working for the government) in a manner that contravenes the government's policies. If you do business with these authorities, you are expected to know and respect all such restrictions.
Marathon employees, as well as its subcontractors and suppliers, shall not offer or give entertainment, gifts or gratuities to representatives or employees of higher tier government contractors other than customary business courtesies that are reasonable in frequency and value. Offering or giving any payment, gift, or other thing of value to such a person for the purpose of obtaining or acknowledging favorable treatment (a “kickback”) is a crime.
Even if not otherwise prohibited, Marathon employees, as well as its subcontractors and suppliers, will not offer or give to any representative or employee of a higher tier government contractor any entertainment, gift, gratuity or anything else of value that such representative or employee is known to be prohibited from accepting under the policies of the higher tier government contractor.
B. SUBCONTRACTOR & SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS
When dealing with or making decisions affecting subcontractors and suppliers, employees shall be careful not to inadvertently obligate either themselves or the company to subcontractors and suppliers. In conducting business with subcontractors and suppliers, employees are expected to act fairly and objectively and in the best interests of Marathon.
Federal laws prohibit the offering, soliciting, or accepting of any kickback, as well as the including of any amount of a kickback in a contract with the government. A kickback is defined as any money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing of value, or compensation of any kind that is provided for the purpose of improperly obtaining or rewarding favorable treatment in connection with a contract with the government. In addition, the "Anti-Kickback Act of 1986" requires each prime contractor and subcontractor to promptly report a violation of the kickback laws to the appropriate Federal agency Inspector General or the Department of Justice if the contractor has reasonable grounds to believe that a violation exists.
Marathon employees, as well as its subcontractors and suppliers, may not accept gifts, entertainment, or other gratuities from anyone seeking a contract with or purchase by Marathon (in whatever form, including purchase orders or credit card purchases), other than customary business courtesies that are reasonable in frequency and value. Marathon employees, as well as its subcontractors and suppliers, may not solicit any gift, entertainment, or other gratuity. Seeking or accepting any payment, gift or other thing of value from any subcontractor, vendor or supplier for the purpose of obtaining or acknowledging favorable treatment under a government contract or subcontract (a “kickback”) is a crime.
Additional limitations apply to those employees who have direct purchasing responsibilities. This includes all employees in the purchasing department and others, if designated by the operating unit such that the affected employees can be readily identified. The additional designations could include, for example, employees who are supplier quality assurance representatives, employees responsible for source selections, or employees authorized to make credit card purchases. Such employees may only accept (a) beverages, light snacks and business meals served during business meetings held at the facilities of subcontractors, vendors, or suppliers, (b) business meals when in travel status, (c) promotional or advertising items having a truly nominal value, such as baseball caps or pads of paper, and (d) any other gift, entertainment, or other gratuity if reported to and approved in writing by an Marathon Officer. Guidance with respect to this policy can be obtained from the Marathon President.
C. POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Marathon believes strongly in the democratic political process and encourages employees to participate personally on their own time in that process. In no event may an employee be reimbursed in any manner for personal political activities. Any questions should be referred to the company President.
VI. MAINTAINING YOUR POSITION OF TRUST
We expect you to devote your full working time and efforts to Marathon’s interests and to avoid any activity that might detract from or conflict with those interests. In particular, you must be aware of certain situations that might compromise your position of trust.
A. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
You may not have any employment, consulting or other business relationship with a competitor, customer, subcontractor or supplier of Marathon or invest in any such entity (except for moderate holdings of publicly traded securities) unless you have the advance written permission of the company President.
Outside employment may also constitute a conflict of interest if it places an employee in the position of appearing to represent Marathon, involves providing services substantially similar to those the company provides, or lessens the efficiency, attentiveness or productivity normally expected of employees on their jobs. The company President must approve all outside employment that raises any question in this regard in advance.
You may not be self-employed in any manner without prior permission of management.
You must notify the company of any benefits you obtain from third parties because of your position and must pay over to the company all such benefits that are capable of being transferred. Benefits subject to notification include, for example, interest-free or low interest loans.
B. RESTRICTED COMPANY INFORMATION
Do not disclose to any outside party (except as specifically authorized by management pursuant to established policy and procedures) any non-public business, financial, personnel or technological information, plans or data you have acquired during your employment at Marathon. On termination of your employment, you may not copy, take or retain any documents containing restricted information.
The prohibition against disclosing restricted information extends indefinitely beyond your period of employment. Your agreement to protect the confidentiality of such information in perpetuity in considered an important condition of your employment at Marathon.
C. GOVERNMENT CLASSIFIED & PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
We have special obligations to comply with laws and regulations that protect classified information. Employees with valid security clearances who have access to classified information must ensure that the information is handled in accordance with pertinent government procedures. These restrictions apply to any form of information, whether in written or electronic form.
Marathon does not solicit nor will it receive any sensitive proprietary internal government information, including budgetary or program information before it is available through normal processes.
Marathon will protect any sensitive government information in accordance with its Corporate Information Security Policy.
D. USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
If used improperly, email and other electronic communications may expose Marathon to significant risks and liability. Accordingly, electronic communications of any type, in addition to other oral and written communications, must be conducted in accordance with sound business judgment, this Code and the company's other policies including those relating to on computers, e-mail and internet usage.
VII. REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Employees are expected to report any suspected violation of this Code of Business Ethics and Conduct or other irregularities to their supervisor, the Ethics Hotline at 619- 276-4401 or by sending an email to info@marathonsd.com. Each employee working for Marathon on a Federal Government project must be provided with a copy of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy. A copy of the Marathon Construction Corporation Hotline poster attached hereto as Appendix A must be displayed in a common work area on each Federal Government project.
No adverse action or retribution of any kind will be taken against an employee because he or she reports a suspected violation of this Code or other irregularity. Such reports shall be treated confidentially to the extent possible, consistent with the need to conduct a thorough investigation. Employees must cooperate in company investigations related to a violation of this Code and failure to cooperate or providing false information may result in disciplinary action, up to and including, termination of employment.
APPENDIX A - HOTLINE POSTER
CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS POLICY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
It is the policy of Marathon Construction Corporation to comply with all laws governing our operations and to conduct our affairs in keeping with the highest moral, legal and ethical standards. In furtherance of this policy, we have developed and you have received a copy of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy.
By your signature below, you acknowledge that you:
• Received the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy
• Received instruction on the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy
• Understand the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics Policy and agree to abide