Policies & Legal - The Hello Co.

Code of Conduct Policy

Conflict of Interest Policy

Effective as of 1^st July 2022
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Company Policy
The Hello Co. is committed to the highest levels of honesty, integrity and ethical standards in all its commercial practices. All members of the Company are required to behave in a manner consistent with current company standards, client-stated requirements and community expectations, and in compliance with the legislation relevant to your role and responsibilities. This Code applies to all persons employed by the Company and associated businesses and requires all company members to abide by the Company policies provided at their time of employment, during induction and periodic-induction and as outlined in employment agreements. The Code supports our business reputation and corporate image within the community because it indicates that the Company cares how it operates.

Ethics
We always conduct our own operations and services honestly and honorably and expect our clients and suppliers to do the same. Our advice, strategic assistance and services will take proper account of ethical considerations, together with the protection and enhancement of the brand and reputation of our clients and suppliers.

Professional Conduct
We conduct all our activities professionally and with integrity. We take great care to be completely objective in our judgement and any recommendations that we give, so that issues are never influenced by anything other than the best and proper interests of our clients.

Confidentiality
We are committed to maintaining the highest degree of integrity in all our dealings with potential, current and past clients and their customers, both in terms of normal commercial confidentiality (and particularly but by no means only in terms of information concerning information imparted by our clients) and the protection of all personal information received in the course of providing the business services concerned. We extend the same standards to all our customers, suppliers and associates.

Intellectual property and moral rights
We retain the moral rights in, and ownership of, all intellectual property that we create unless agreed otherwise in advance with our clients. In return we respect the moral and intellectual copyright vested in our clients’ intellectual property

Duty of care
Our actions and advice will always conform to relevant law, and we believe that all businesses and organisations, including this company, should avoid causing any adverse effect on the human rights of people in the organizations we deal with, the local and wider environments, and the well-being of society at large.
We will seek to avoid any conflicts of interest. Any potential contracts or other significant business opportunities must be referred to and assessed by the Chief Executive Officer to ensure they do or will not represent any conflict of interest.

Employees
Employees must avoid situations where a conflict of interest could arise or be seen as a possibility.
Employees must not accept expensive or inappropriate gifts or gratuities.
Employees must avoid attending events as supplier guests where attendance could raise expectations of benefit to supplier.

Suppliers
The criteria used in the selection of suppliers will be price, quality and reliability. Company members are not permitted to seek personal favours from suppliers. Payment terms will be honoured and accounts payable processes in terms of agreed arrangements.

Contracts
Contracts will usually be in the form of a detailed proposal, including aims, activities, costs, timescales and deliverables. The quality of our service and the value of our support provide the only true basis for continuity. We will fully meet our clients’ contractual requirements.

Quality Assurance
We maintain the quality of what we do through constant ongoing review, both internally and with our clients, of all aims, activities, outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of every activity. We encourage regular review meetings and provide regular progress reports.

Environmental Sustainability
We have a firm commitment to environmental sustainability and acceptable practices and the minimisation of adverse impacts of our operations on the environment. We have and will continue to develop and implement processes and practices to achieve this.

Charities and Sponsorship
Sponsorship proposals should demonstrate a beneficial correlation between our company, the recipients and our target markets. Sponsorship packages should contain elements that directly benefit the company, rather than individuals in our organisation. Donations and gifts to charities will be assessed on their individual merits. The personal interests of the officer making the assessment or decision must not influence them.

Equality and Anti-Discrimination
We always strive to be fair and objective in our advice and actions, and we are never influenced in our decisions, actions or recommendations by issues of gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, colour, age or personal disability. In interviewing applicants for new positions or promotions, the company will only consider the requirements of the job and the skills of the applicant in meeting the job requirements. Indecisions about employment conditions or continued employment of an individual, the company will not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, race, religious or political affiliation, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or disability.

The relevant acts applicable to our Equality and Anti-Discrimination Policy are:
- Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
- Racial Discrimination Act (Commonwealth) 1975
- Australian Capital Territory Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT)
- New South Wales Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)
- Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act 1996 (NT)
- Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (QLD)
- South Australia Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (SA)
- Tasmania Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (TAS)
- Victoria Equal Opportunity Act 1995 (VIC)
- Western Australia Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)

Indigenous Participation Policy

Effective as of 1^st July 2022
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Company Policy
Our actions and advice will always conform to relevant law, and we believe that all businesses and organisations, including this company, should avoid causing any adverse effect on the human rights of people in the organizations we deal with, the local and wider environments, and the well-being of society at large.
The Hello Co. values an inclusive and diverse workforce, and recognises the following potential benefits from an effective Indigenous Participation Strategy:

- Advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
- Benefits to Indigenous people and their communities from employment
- Using the unique skills and perspectives of Indigenous Australians
- A pathway to building a sustainable, local, workforce
- Assistance in meeting skills shortages, especially in rural and remote areas
- Meeting the company’s corporate social responsibilities and objectives
- Expanding the knowledge and awareness of non-Indigenous staff

The principles which underpin this policy include:

Recognition of Indigenous Australian cultural knowledge as a significant contribution to all other bodies of knowledge and acknowledges the skills and experience Indigenous People bring to the Company.
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Encourages the development of culturally appropriate mentoring and support systems to foster understanding and partnerships with Indigenous communities and service agencies on employment, training and career development issues.
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Will foster equality of opportunity in employment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People by positively seeking to recruit them, and by removing from the company structures and practices any remaining barriers to employment and career enhancement which may result indirect or indirect discrimination
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Encourages the development of systems and structures that strengthen knowledge and expertise in the management of programs that support recruitment, retention and career pathways for Indigenous Australians within the community.

Quality Policy

Effective as of 1^st July 2022
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Description
The Hello Co. has guidelines for all employees regarding Quality Policy

Purpose & Scope
The purpose of this policy is to explain the general procedures relating to Quality Policy. The following guidelines are to be adhered to by all managers, supervisors and employees.

Policy & Procedure
The Hello Co. is engaged in the business of providing on-demand language solutions and this policy applies to the entire organisation. The purpose of this policy is to confirm our commitment to meeting the quality standards expected by our customers in the delivery of the products and/or services that we supply to them. Our quality system is based on the requirements of ISO 9001:2015

Our quality objectives are to:
- Use the Quality Management System as a tool in achieving best practice for the organisation;
- Ensure continuous improvement

To implement this policy, we shall focus on the needs of our business with particular reference to consistently meeting our customers' requirements and statutory obligations. Our quality management system will provide mechanisms for detecting system shortfalls and for stimulating process improvements.

We are committed to achieving customer satisfaction by the use of quality procedures which will be operated to meet or exceed the requirements of ISO 9001.

The Hello Co. will adopt procedures and disciplines to ensure that:
- The system is effectively implemented through skills training and conducting appropriate quality awareness training;
- Responsibilities for quality are established by communicating these responsibilities clearly to all employees;
- The policy and procedures continue to be appropriate by initiating regular reviews to check its effectiveness
- The company regularly reviews customer needs/expectations and initiates improvement activities to meet these objectives.

Authorised Quality Representative: Chief Executive Officer

Download ISO 9001:2015 Certification Certificate

Whistleblowing Policy

Effective as of 1^st July 2022
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Company Policy

In line with our values, we encourage eligible persons to speak up when they see actions or behaviour within The Hello Co. that do not comply with corporate values or applicable legal and regulatory requirements. This policy provides guidance on how we approach, protect and manage these disclosures. This whistleblowing policy is a practical tool to assist The Hello Co. in identifying behaviour and conduct that may not be uncovered otherwise and aims to ensure that eligible persons can speak up anonymously when they feel The Hello Co., or an individual associated with The Hello Co. is not adhering to such values or any legal and regulatory requirements and disclose reportable conduct with confidence knowing their disclosure is secure and that they will be protected and supported.
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Definition of Eligible Persons
All staff members (including partners, directors, temporary or full-time employees, secondees) and their dependents and relatives; any former staff members and their dependents and relatives; current and former contractors, suppliers, consultants and business partners including their dependents and relatives.

How to obtain a copy of our Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure
If you are an eligible person, please email hello@thehelloco.com.au for a copy of the policy and procedure document.