City of Espoo Code of Conduct
The City of Espoo’s Code of Conduct is based on the Espoo Story, the city corporate group’s guidelines as well as laws and regulations. The Code of Conduct applies to all our activities and steers the way in which all our elected officials, managers, office-holders and employees work irrespective of their position or duties.
All managers and supervisors are responsible for ensuring that employees are familiar with the Code of Conduct. The management and staff must be able to discuss openly any issues related to the Code of Conduct.
Our values reflect what is important to us. They reflect our way of working and guide our choices and decision-making. Our activities must always be in line with the values specified in the Espoo Story.
Espoo’s values and operating principles:
Espoo is resident- and customer-oriented.
Smooth everyday life is important in Espoo. The best resources in Espoo are its residents, communities and companies. Active involvement of residents in the development of our services and our comprehensive cooperation with partners ensure effective services that meet the needs of the residents.
Espoo is a responsible pioneer.
We are broadminded, creative and open, challenge the status quo and have the courage to do things differently. Being a pioneer involves utilising research and international experience, organising experiments and knowing how to deal with possible failures. We develop Espoo in an economically, environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable manner.
Espoo is fair.
We act openly and fairly and treat people with equality, humanity and tolerance.
Espoo is the most sustainable city in Europe, now and in the future. Espoo is being built into an attractive and safe city in a resident- and customer-oriented manner. Espoo’s growth is economically, environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable.
Espoo is working actively to combat climate change, strengthen biodiversity and achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. In addition, we are adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Cooperation with universities, research organisations, innovation activities and businesses generates solutions with a significant carbon handprint that will help tackle the global climate challenge. Sustainable and intelligent urban solutions make daily life and mobility smoother. All Espoo residents can make sustainable choices in their daily lives and make a difference in their local environment.
We are involved in building a sustainable Finland, Europe and world. Our goal is to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a forerunner. Espoo develops and shares its sustainable development expertise through national and international city networks.
Read more:
We support and promote equality. We do not tolerate any kind of discrimination, for example based on a person’s gender, age, ethnic background, religion or sexual orientation. Our employees have freedom of opinion and speech as well as freedom of association. We value the skills, experience and diversity of our staff. We treat our employees fairly and equally.
Our employees have the right to work in a safe and healthy environment. We want to develop occupational wellbeing, health and safety. We follow guidelines and agreed rules. We are a member of the Vision Zero Forum and our workplaces are smoke-free.
Our supervisors know the city’s common management cornerstones and base their work on them. Our work community’s wellbeing requires everyone’s involvement. We encourage our staff to continuously improve their working conditions. We do not tolerate workplace bullying, harassment or any other form of inappropriate behaviour.
We undertake to comply with all laws and regulations. We all need to be aware of the regulations and guidelines related to our work. Supervisors are responsible for providing the required induction. When working in different roles within the city organisation, we take the utmost account of disqualification aspects and, if necessary, withdraw from all preparatory work, presentation, decision-making and implementation regarding the matter in question.
For the organisation of administration, the City Council has adopted administrative regulations that specify the tasks of city authorities and the division of powers. More detailed information can be found in the operating instructions.
The city’s top management plays an important role in creating and maintaining good governance. Leadership and management are based on a positive, trusting view of people. The city bodies and supervisors set an example by following the agreed guidelines and rules.
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We emphasise openness in all our activities and communications. We provide prior and timely information on our services and decision-making to residents, the media and other stakeholders.
However, we also protect the privacy of our residents and stakeholders when processing their data. We always provide the same information without favouring a specific stakeholder or individual.
Our decision-making processes are public and fair. We promote transparency when presenting alternatives and reasons to support decision-making.
We promote healthy competition and do not participate in activities that aim to or may restrict or prevent effective and fair competition.
We always comply with procurement-related legislation and the City of Espoo’s internal guidelines. Our main principles include organising open and effective tendering processes and treating all bidders in an equal and non-discriminatory manner.
Through our systematic and goal-oriented procurement activities, we also promote sustainable development and employment.
Read more:
Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts(external link, opens in a new window) (In Finnish)
Act on the Contractor’s Obligations and Liability when Work is Contracted Out(external link, opens in a new window) (In Finnish)
We combat the grey economy and economic crime actively by cooperating with the business sector, the Tax Administration and other authorities.
We expect our suppliers, service providers, their subcontractors and our other partners to act responsibly and follow the city’s Code of Conduct.
We also respect the ethical guidelines, good practices and rules of organisations in different sectors, such as the construction sector, and support their development.
Read more:
Prevention of money laundering(external link, opens in a new window)
We do not tolerate any kind of violations in our operations, such as dishonest, unethical or illegal activities or any activities that violate the city corporate group’s guidelines. All our employees are responsible for protecting our property and using our assets appropriately. The city corporate group’s property cannot be used for personal purposes.
We do not tolerate any kind of corruption. All forms of bribery are prohibited. We do not offer or accept bribes or other illegal payments. We do not tolerate participating or assisting in money laundering. Thus, we do not demand, accept or offer any forms of hospitality, gifts or other benefits that aim to or could be assumed to influence activities or decision-making in our work and networks. We make sure that all our activities are impartial. In unclear situations, we discuss the issue in advance with a supervisor or the sector lawyer.
We address all activities that violate the Code of Conduct immediately. Our supervisors are obliged to monitor compliance with the Code of Conduct, be open to feedback and take corrective measures if necessary.
Read more
Corruption and ethics (kuntaliitto.fi)(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish)
Anti-Corruption.fi (Ministry of Justice)(external link, opens in a new window)