a. Discrimination, Harassment and
Workplace Violence
Discrimination, harassment and workplace violence are illegal and
will not be tolerated by Kinross. The prohibition against
discrimination, harassment and workplace violence includes conduct
at the Company's offices, mine sites as well as any other
Company-related place or event. Discrimination, harassment
and workplace violence through indirect methods of communication
such telephone calls or e-mails, is also prohibited.
Discrimination and Harassment
Kinross fosters a work environment in which all individuals are
treated with respect and dignity. Kinross is an equal
opportunity employer and does not permit its representatives to
discriminate against Employees, Officers, Directors, Contractors or
potential Employees, Officers, Directors or Contractors.
Discrimination includes any behavior which degrades an individual,
including but not limited to, any distinction, imposition of a
burden, withholding of a benefit or preferential treatment on the
basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual
orientation or disability or any other category protected by
Canadian federal and provincial or local laws and regulations
applicable in the jurisdiction where such employees, officers or
directors are located. Kinross will make reasonable accommodations
for its Employees, Officers, Directors and Contractors in
compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Kinross is
committed to actions and policies to assure fair employment,
including equal treatment in hiring, promotion, training,
compensation, termination and corrective action and will take
disciplinary action against any Employee, Officer, Director or
Contractor who is found to have contravened the Company's
prohibition against discrimination.
Kinross will not tolerate harassment of its Employees, Officers,
Directors or Contractors or any other person involved in a business
relationship with Kinross and will take disciplinary action against
any Employee, Officer, Director or Contractor who is found to have
contravened the Company's prohibition against harassment.
Harassment is any vexatious conduct or comment which is known or
ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome or offensive, or to
create an intimidating or hostile work environment.
Harassment can be a one-time occurrence or can be ongoing. The
definition of harassment includes sexual harassment.
Examples of behavior which may be considered discrimination or
harassment include, but are not limited to:
(a) unwelcome remarks, jokes, taunts,
suggestions, slurs or speculation about a person's culture, sexual
orientation, ethnicity, ancestry, age or other prohibited ground of
discrimination, or about a person's body, attire or sex life;
(b) offensive or demeaning posters,
graffiti, drawings or cartoons;
(c) unwelcome or offensive sexual
advances, requests, comments or noises;
(d) demands for sexual favours in
exchange for employment advantages, promises of employment
advantages, or the threat of withdrawal of those advantages;
(e) unwelcome physical conduct or
gestures of a sexual nature including suggestive or persistent
staring and unnecessary contact such as touching, pinching or
jostling; and
(f) persistent unwanted attention or
contact after the end of a consensual relationship.
Workplace Violence
Workplace violence is illegal and is the attempted or actual
exercise of any physical force that causes or may cause physical
injury to a person, and includes any threats which give a person
reasonable grounds to believe he or she is at risk of physical
injury.
Examples of behavior which may be considered workplace violence
include, but are not limited to:
(a) physical attacks such as hitting,
shoving, pushing or kicking;
(b) verbal or written threats, including
any expression of an intent to inflict harm; and
(c) bullying, teasing or other abusive
and aggressive behavior which may lead to physical attacks or
threats.
Weapons
No weapons of any kind will be tolerated in the workplace unless
such are required for Kinross property security purposes and then
only after authorization by the Chief Operating Officer or his or
her delegate.
Responsibilities
Kinross is committed to preventing discrimination, harassment and
workplace violence before inappropriate behavior occurs and to
addressing any complaints related to these matters on a timely
basis. Accordingly, supervisors and managers are responsible
for:
- Providing a safe workplace, free from discrimination,
harassment and violence.
- Immediately reporting any allegations of discrimination,
harassment and workplace violence in accordance with the procedures
found in Section VIII - "Using this Code and Reporting
Violations".
- Identifying any workplace risk factors associated with
discrimination, harassment or workplace violence.
- Implementing appropriate measures to prevent and protect
against discrimination, harassment and workplace violence.
- Where appropriate, providing training to employees, officers
and directors in respect of discrimination, harassment and
workplace violence.
All Kinross representatives are responsible for ensuring that
their own behavior is free from discrimination, harassment and
workplace violence. Employees, Officers, Directors and
Contractors are also responsible for reporting any incidences of
discrimination, harassment and workplace violence of which they
become aware, regardless of whether such person is the target of
such behavior.
b. Substance Abuse
Kinross is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy work
environment free of substance abuse. Employees, Officers, Directors
and Contractors must not (i) consume alcoholic beverages in
quantities that affect work performance or impair their judgment
during work hours, (ii) consume, provide or serve alcoholic
beverages in Kinross' premises, except when approved by the
President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Legal Officer or
the Senior Vice President, Human Resources, or (iii) consume,
possess, sell or distribute illegal substances in Kinross'
premises, at any Kinross function or at any other time when you
could be identified as a Kinross Employee, Officer, Director or
Contractor.
c. Employment of Family
Members
Employment of more than one family member at a Kinross mine or
office is permissible but the direct supervision of one family
member by another is not permitted unless otherwise authorized by
the Senior Vice-President, Human Resources or his or her
delegate. Except for summer and co-op students, indirect
supervision of a family member by another is also discouraged and
requires the prior approval of the respective Chief Operating
Officer and Senior Vice-President, Human Resources or their
respective delegates. If allowed, any personnel actions
(including, for example, promotions or changes in employment
responsibilities) affecting that Employee must also be reviewed and
endorsed by the forenamed executives.
d. Employee Privacy and Personal
Information
Kinross believes in taking steps to protect the privacy of its
Employees, Officers, Directors and Contractors and others with whom
Kinross has a business relationship. Kinross will not
interfere in the personal lives of such individuals unless their
conduct impairs their work performance or adversely affects the
work environment or reputation of Kinross.
Kinross limits the collection of personal information to that
which is necessary for business, legal, security or contractual
purposes and collection of personal information is to be conducted
by fair and lawful means with the knowledge and consent of the
individual from whom the information is being collected.
Access to Employee personnel and medical records and the
information contained therein shall be limited to those with a need
to know for a legitimate business purpose. All Employees have
the right to see their own personnel record. Personal
information shall not be used or disclosed for purposes other than
those for which it was collected, except with the knowledge and
consent of the individual or as required by law. Personal
information shall be retained only as long as necessary for the
fulfilment of those purposes and shall be kept sufficiently
accurate, complete and up-to-date to minimize the possibility that
inappropriate information may be used or disclosed. Kinross
and its representatives will observe obligations of confidentiality
and non-disclosure of personal information, including information
of its Employees, Officers, Directors and Contractors and other
persons with whom Kinross has a business relationship, with the
same degree of diligence that Employees, Officers, Directors and
Contractors are expected to use in protecting confidential
information of Kinross. Kinross is responsible for all
personal information in its possession or custody, including
information that has been transferred to a third party for
processing, and all Employees, Officers, Directors and Contractors
shall adhere to Kinross' policies and procedures in place to
protect personal information against loss or theft, as well as
unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or
modification. Kinross and all Employees, Officers, Directors
and Contractors shall also comply with all applicable laws
regulating the disclosure of personal information, including the
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
(Canada).