Legal & Ethical issues in relation to Tesco (P5&P6)

Tesco is making £53million a year selling information on the spending habits of shoppers, including the 16million members of its Clubcard loyalty scheme. P.g.1

Tesco administers the legal and ethical issues in relation to the use of information.

• Legal Issues • Ethical Issues

Fundamental Issues at TESCO Way of receiving the information and appropriate members

• TESCO policies

Policy & Procedures At Tesco

◊ Security of Information ◊ Back‐ups ◊ Health and Safety ◊ Organisational Policies ◊ Business Continuance Plans ◊ Costs

Ethical trading at

Tesco

To find how Tesco brakes the laws in many different occasions, I will add a brief introduction to all the pointing regulations.

By writing this article I will inform every consumer to know their rights and how to protect their‐self in case of eventual unfair treatment by Tesco.

Tesco's 'Trading Fairly' programme is a core element of their promise to buy and sell products responsibly and exists: "so Tesco’s customers can know that everything they buy is produced under decent conditions, and everyone involved is treated fairly".

The main three leading regulation that Tesco brakes are Data Protection Act 1998, Computer Misuse Act 1990, Freedom of Information Act 2000.

'Trading fairly' is fully integrated within Tesco's commercial division, forming a key part of their broader strategy for corporate responsibility. Its objectives and activities are delivered by a wide range of commercial staff, overseen by a specialist ethical trading team including dedicated local staff in key supplying countries.

Date Protection Act 1998 is applying to keep all personal details such as names, DOB, telephone numbers etc. in strong confidentiality between the individual and the organisation that access this details from the individual.

The evidences I have, makes me believe that Tesco brakes our confidentiality and it is one of the reasons that we receive all those annoying calls and currently emails from insurance providers.

No loyalty! Tesco sells details of your shopping habits for £53m was on the first page published by MailOnline saying that,, Tesco is making £53million a year selling information on the spending habits of shoppers, including the 16million members of its Clubcard loyalty scheme.,, I also found that is not all, there some other sources saying that Tesco is passing customer’s contact information to many other organisations including insurance associations.

All those information is found on web page that Tesco published in relation to inform how their ethical principles will work.

Read more on: www.tescoplc.com/site/library/policiesandfactshe ets/ethical‐trading‐at‐tesco.htm

Very interesting fact is that program sounds very trustful and make the people to realise how Tesco will treat us with confidentiality and ethical values however many media sources published how Tesco brake the laws of confidentiality and human rights in before.

This will leads us to the point of ,,if Tesco did it before on purpose, why to not do it again?,, of course the answer to thing question will not get the whole answer but we can be sure that Tesco won’t treat us with confidentiality on 100%.

Computer Misuse Act 1990 is actually protecting everyone who use any social devices.

Tesco cannot access some other company intranet or emails in order to take contact details of people and use them for marketing. Without permission

from the holder of certain social website, email etc. Tesco cannot access.

environment. Tesco is one of the business allowing people from many different countries to take part in their aim to grow.

Diversity Issues are well met from most big businesses in the UK and they fallow the moral and ethical Equality and Diversity in order to put everyone with equal values.

Human Right Act 1996 is applying in protection to everyone regarding equality and diversity, salaries etc.

Everyone who think is treated unfairly can turn to this act for protection and fairly judgement.

In Tesco everyone is treated equally as the workers are from many different countries and race. There is no such thing as favouritism this is why everyone is treated in the same equal way with respect and professionalism.

In case some employee in Tesco feel no‐fairly treated e.g. different salaries because of the gender such as women will take low salary but doing the same job as a man, however the man is paid more that means the human right act is broken by Tesco. Everyone can seek their rights in case of such unfairly treatment.

Privacy Act 1975 is applying to keeping save the personal information and be confidential.

This law protect individuals to keep their personal information save and no one to be able to access it without permission.

E.g. when someone apply for a job in Tesco, the application require the future employee to present criminal record information. If the employee does not agree to do that, he/she might not get the job but Tesco won’t be able to access that information without permission

Freedom of Information Act 2000 apply to everyone who is part of some association and give legal perdition to access that information.

E.g. Tesco is based in certain area in London and they could ask the local council to give them information about number of people who live in that area or number of kits and adults/man and woman so Tesco can use that information so see what type of products they should increase, depending on the certain group of customers. If in the area the kits are two times more than adults then Tesco could add more toys and increase their toy section.

http://issuu.com/publish?funnel=freeplan

Ethical Issues

Every business is responsible to develop codes of conduct and ethics that every member of the organization must abide by and put into action. Fundamental ethical issues include concepts such and integrity and trust, but more complex issues include accommodating diversity, decision‐making, compliance and governance.

Read more about Ethical Issues at Tesco by fallowing this link http://www.tescoplc.com/site/library/policies andfactsheets/ethical‐trading‐at‐tesco.htm Diversity Issues in Tesco are very well met in order there work people from different background in well organised and friendly

Internet use might put employers and employees at odds because both sides are trying to protect personal interests.

Employees want to maintain privacy while employers want to ensure company resources aren't misused. In any case, companies can maintain ethical monitoring policies by avoiding indiscriminate monitoring of employees' online activities.

All employees must not access web pages for personal purpose because that could ruin the company’s reputation if become public. People using internet to look at embarrassing pictures and videos may be monitored and put their reputation down.

Whistle Blowing A whistle‐blower is a person who provides information to law enforcement or regulatory agencies about a business that is engaged in suspected illegal or improper activities. To protect the public interest and encourage employees’ disclosure of illegal or unethical practices, Congress passed the Whistle‐blower Protection Act in 1989.

either.

In case Tesco do so and access that information without permission, the organisation can be suit by the holder of this information.

Fundamental Issues or essential ethical issues that Tesco face are integrity and trust. There are basic understanding of integrity includes the idea of conducting the business affairs with honesty and a commitment to treating every customer fairly.

Customers must perceive that a company is exhibiting an unwavering commitment to ethical business practices, a high level of trust can develop between Tesco and its customers. The important relationship of trust between Tesco and the customers is the key determinate to Tesco’s success.

Compliance and Governance Issues is meaning that Tesco and all other businesses in the UK are expected fully to fallow the laws and different regulations to be met in order to follow the rules of the country that Tesco is based. Tesco is international business which means e.g. in China, Tesco has to fallow the China laws and meet all the regulations even slightly different from those in the UK.

Tax in Codes of Ethics Tesco is responsible to find the best and own way of paying the taxes that UK Gov. requires but to pay all required without missing or avoiding any.

Some other companies do address tax as an issue or commitment in their code of ethics or similar guidance.

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples‐ whistleblowing‐business‐2651.html

E.g. when the company has some information kept in from people e.g. not quality meet on the shelves. The company might fix the problem quickly and change the meet with quality product but the information about it might be kept in secret so Tesco won’t lose any customers however there is someone who access that info to public without internal knowing.

Organisational Policies is to ensure that Tesco practices with regard to information can be done more ethically.

This could be anything from how they manage information to ensuring marketing and other business practices are fair and just.

Information Ownership is how the owner of personal or other information will handle it. Owner has to protect the information's confidentiality and act with integrity when anything has to be altered with regard to the information. Managers in Tesco have access to many

Email Accounts especially private must not be access during the work or in the work place, however not many employees fallow that rule and they could find themselves in an ethical and legal quandary.

employees information and they have to ensure that information won’t get in wrong hands, be stolen, lost or even used for public purposes without permission.

Organisational Policies

Every company has a policies and code of practice that they fallow in order to protect their customers, employees and both internal and external faces from unfair treatment across the company. CDF is committed to being a responsible employer, service provider and community member.

You can download each organisational policy by clicking on the heading.

Read more about Tesco Policies on

https://www.ourtesco.com/office‐ handbook/your‐conduct/code‐of‐business‐ conduct/ Equal Opportunities policy in Tesco is meant to provide equality of opportunity, which recognises and respects the rich diversity and differences of staff and stakeholders. Tesco Equal Opportunities policy ensures equal treatment and opportunity for all regardless of gender, sexuality, race, colour, disability, religion, age, ethnicity or nationality.

That also applies in many other companies based in the territory of the UK.

Health & Safety Policy is ensuring that to provide conditions that ensure the health, safety and well‐ being of Tesco’s staff at work.

Tesco has to ensure the work environment

meets all the Health & Safety regulations and minimise the eventual risk of employees’ injuries. Tesco also provide insurance facility for its employees so in eventual injury both Tesco and the employees will not lose any money from their own pocket.

Data Protection Policy is meant to keep save all internal and external, personal information. That includes names, addresses, emails and other privacy. That Policy help Tesco to keep save all the customer’s details as it known Tesco provide banking and insurance facility which contains much more of the ordinary personal information. In relation to that Tesco is required to provide the best software security.

Quality Policy in Tesco ensure that any brand of the business will serve same quality of products and services every time and everywhere. That policy in Tesco is very strict in order to keep the high standards of quality and satisfaction of the customers.

In different countries Tesco might sale different products however all of them should be the same quality as ever.

Environmental Policy to reduce the Environmental impacts of Tesco as a business and operate in an environmentally responsible manner, in a

the workplace in any form, whether towards their customers, colleagues, suppliers or anyone else. Colleagues found to have been engaged in unacceptable behaviour can face serious consequences such as disciplinary action, including dismissal, and potentially legal action.

Accurate accounting and money laundering Tesco always ensure that to keep accurate records and accounts. This includes for example, accurate figures recorded on all cash office documentation and up to date training on the money laundering policy. This is very Important in relation to calculate the eventual taxes that they will pay also to have clear and well organised financial system.

Confidentiality and data protection Tesco has an important duty to its customers and their colleagues to respect the information which is hold about them and ensure it is protected and handled responsibly. If someone collect customer or colleague information, it has to make sure it is relevant, accurate and kept for no longer than necessary. After the information is no longer in need it must be destroyed in order to prevent Tesco from future problems and ruin good reputation.

Political activity All employees have the right, like any other citizen, to be politically active, as long as this is kept separate from Tesco’s work duties and does not influence how Tesco behave to customers, colleagues or anyone else, or in any way affect the reputation of the business.

Manger which is appropriate and proportionate to Tesco. This policy describes how we will achieve aims of Tesco.

The environmental policy in Tesco applies to all of operations including management, office services and operations, delivery and procurement.

The Code of Practice covers some of most important individual responsibilities and obligations in Tesco. As it goes about Tesco’s work and, as a colleague, everyone must fallow follow it.

The Code provides guidance on fourteen key issues that may arise as it works for Tesco, and indicates which should contact if someone think that, or another colleague, may have broken these rules. Of course there will always be other challenging situations that are not presently covered by the Code

Equal opportunities which means that everyone is welcome at Tesco and their success depends on the people who work at Tesco. The business aim to employ people who reflect the diverse nature of society and value the contribution every colleague makes, irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, ethnic origin or political beliefs or trade union membership.

Unacceptable behaviour Tesco doesn’t tolerate abuse or unacceptable behaviour in

Code of

Practice

so in order to give the information in most accurate way, with no misunderstanding mistakes and even will prevent record for proving requirements.

The unofficial information is not set from important details and it can be access in both written and verbal way. All information has to be handled with security and confidentiality, some of it more than other type of information. However this is depending on the information and what laws stay behind that information such as DATA Protection Act.

Appropriate members of staff receives the information, but not every member at Tesco can access the information. Some information is for public use which means that even operatives can access it.

The important information including figures and personal detail is accessed and handled of people who are well introduced in the appropriate way of doing it, which means that Tesco train those people how to fallow the code of practice, how to fallow the laws in order to meet the requirements of handling information. People who can access information are managers, Tesco Recruitment team, Directors and Tesco Date bank (an online place in where all information is saved securely).

As every other organisation dealing with people both directly and indirectly Tesco also have to set up own policy procedures in order to keep the company working in the way it supposed to be. The policies are such as laws but they are applying only in the company.

Operation of Information Manage Information Every company has to know has to manage their information effectively. This is essential as they are responsible for that information they have, which could be personal information or organisational information.

However there some information that is much more important than other.

Receives the information it requires, Tesco has to ensure that information is handled with confidentiality and security. There are information from customers that Tesco have in order to run surveys, phone call feedback and many other. All that information is given by the customer to Tesco and it has to be used only by Tesco and no one else, which means Tesco has to access the information only to its needs until they need it. Once the information is not in need, it is better to be destroyed or saved in a Tesco information bank.

Tesco have banking facility which means there are much important information such as ID copies, Address, Account Details, which means that information is much more important to be handled secure.

If that information get in wrong hands, the holders might get in trouble and either Tesco can be taken to the court.

Tesco receives all that information from customers or other organisation. The important information is passed in written way (post, email, other social method) this is

Fundamental Issues

Why Tesco require policy/procedure?

means and is responsible for.

Business Continuance Plans is responsible for that Tesco continuance planning seeks to prevent interruption of mission‐critical services, and to re‐establish full functioning as swiftly and smoothly as possible. If some service is out of order for some reason, this procedure will ensure to resolve it and get it back in order as soon as possible. It is such as Backups but in much more bigger scale.

Costs – • Additional resources needed which can apply when Tesco want to open new section e.g. Bakery and it will need some essential equipment such as warm showcases, and in that order it will need to employee new people to work on that section in order to serve customers.

• Costs of development is resources that will support Tesco develop by providing new services, opening new sections, opening new branches and even develop their online facilities.

E.g. when Tesco add some new section with products, it can be put on their website which will allow customers to purchase online. In order to achieve that, Tesco have to pay to people who will make a place and add those products into their online shop.

• Back‐ups is used by Tesco in order to save important information and prevent any loses of it. That information is saved on speared server form the current one which allows saving for long term and prevent from eventual loses.

Tesco have information bank which allows it to save information securely and access it whenever it is needed.

Sometimes the Policies are based on laws and regulations but also set up from ethical and fundamental views.

The policies and procedures below are some examples of those policies that apply in Tesco.

By looking at them and elaborating, that information, the readers can understand how Tesco works and rather or not is to bhttp://www.tescoplc.com/site/library/policie sandfactsheets/ethical‐trading‐at‐ tesco.htmecome a worker for Tesco.

Security of Information is essential part of Tesco as they have access to personal information both external and internal.

As providing banking and insurance facility Tesco is responsible for keeping the information given from people save and handle with confidentiality. That policy is introduced to all people who work for Tesco and especially those having and dealing with such information. This is how Tesco can prevent internally from eventual information leaks.

Health and Safety procedures are for all those people who work internally for Tesco. By using the environment and equipment, Tesco is responsible to provide them safety computer environment. However all the workers have to be self‐introduced how to use the IT equipment a safely.

That means that Tesco is trying to prevent any eventual accidents which could make Tesco lose good workers and even to be suit and lose money because of that.

Organisational Policies is a whole package of policies such as Equal Opportunities policy, Environmental policy, Quality policy, Data Protection policy, Health and Safety policy, Complaints, Comments & Compliments policy.

All those policies was elaborated by me in the beginning of this article which means that the readers should know, what each of this policy

This is very important part of their activity because once the information is collected, that’s mean Tesco spend money on that collecting data activity and if that file is lost then Tesco will need to spend again the same money for the same activity. This is why it is very important Tesco to use that Back‐ups.

Author: Kristiyan Karadzhinov Date: 18/11/2015 Criteria: P5&P6