Compliance & Ethics at Scorpio
Well, it’s that time of the year again! Of course, I’m not referring to the holiday season but to Scorpio’s Ethics and Compliance Programs’ annual mandatory testing. There is a good reason why our HR department requires us to take these tests, namely changing a cultural mindset.
We are all lucky to work for a company that prioritizes such a high ethical and compliant working environment, making it easy for us to do the right thing. The goals achieved when exercising good compliance are extremely important to our company, but more importantly these goals should be important for yourselves and your families – it’s not worth violating procedures or regulatory policies.
Complying with our company procedures and regulations not only brings you peace of mind, but also the benefit of knowing you’ve done the right thing for yourselves and your company. Often, we hear of individuals, intentionally or unintentionally, who violate international laws or company policies in an attempt to save time or to save the company money. Let it be known, however, that no amount of money saved is worth the risk of receiving considerable fines, penalties or worse potential jail time. Right now, for example, there are seafarers awaiting sentencing in the USA, potentially up to 18 months, for bypassing and pumping bilge water overboard. How could that ever be an option for someone? Here at Scorpio, we have worked hard to provide everything from modern ships, with good designs and great tools to ensure our employees perform their jobs at the best possible level.
Equally important to consider are the consequences of not being forthcoming, for making mistakes. We all make mistakes, this happens, but, naturally, we are afraid of admitting the error. We must, instead, be more fearful of the consequences of not bringing it up, rather than the immediate reaction received when the mistake is made. As an example, if your child borrowed your car and this resulted in a scratch or other damage to the car, and, more afraid of being punished than admitting wrongdoing, consequently, tries not to mention it. Once you discover the damage afterwards, your emotions and reactions are much stronger, certain to be much angrier and argumentative. Sometimes it might be more unpleasant in the moment, but, in the end, if we are open and honest, we can all learn from potential mistakes or missteps, to ensure it doesn’t happen again and that we can all move forward.
We believe in an honest, open, and transparent environment at Scorpio and hope that you feel the same way. If, however, you ever experience that you do not get the proper support, please speak up. Don’t ever feel that you cannot question an order which you believe is against company procedure or regulations. We have put in place numerous methods to ensure an easy system for getting your voice heard. As always, start with an onboard solution, but if you feel ignored or feel it will not be taken seriously, there are several other methods, including contacting your DPA or Scorpio’s own hotline found on our web page.
Our SECAT (Safety Environmental Compliance and Training) supports all our seafarers in ensuring compliance. We appreciate all the excellent work and efforts made by everyone. It is very good to see that we have continued to foster an environment which appreciates and welcomes owning up to mistakes, working together to find solutions. This helps all of us prevent more significant and higher risk errors. We thank all our seafarers for maintaining an outstanding commitment to keeping Scorpio safe and compliant.
