Social Performance: Human Rights

Strategy and Management

Every year, all key managers and executives are required to certify that they have read, understand, are in compliance with, and will continue to comply with our Standards of Business Conduct, which are based on the Bristol-Myers Squibb Pledge of responsible corporate citizenship.

The organizational structure for addressing sustainability issues has broad responsibility for human rights compliance issues.

Non-Discrimination

Bristol-Myers Squibb embraces diversity in our workforce as crucial to our success as a growing and innovative company. Bristol-Myers Squibb employees around the world are dedicated to fostering a dynamic operating culture that is receptive to diverse ideas, experiences, and perspectives.

As a global company focused on leadership and growth, Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to policies and practices that build a diverse workplace. We have been publicly recognized by a range of external organizations for the diversity of our workplace.

Our employees are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards in the conduct of our business. The Office of Corporate Conduct is a resource for any employee wishing to report suspected instances of improper conduct within the company. Employees may contact the office anonymously or identify themselves with the assurance that their identity will be kept confidential. We regularly promote awareness of this resource through employee publications.

Labor

Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to compliance with all laws regarding child labor, forced labor, and freedom of association. We will not tolerate practices that violate the intent of our Pledge. None of our operations have been identified as having significant risk for incidents of child labor or forced labor.

Bioethics

As the amount of clinical research has grown, especially in developing counties, policies and practices are needed to address bioethics concerns. These include the many aspects of obtaining informed consent, particularly for vulnerable patients like children, the mentally impaired, the illiterate or those who have no other choice of treatments.

In addition, research should be conducted in a population that will derive benefit from that research. There is growing concern that companies could exploit developing countries in order to obtain data for a drug that could not be used in those countries because the patients there could not afford them.

Emerging areas of bioethics include confidentiality of samples in pharmacogenetics, so that information is not used against people, for example, for insurance purposes.

In 2001 and 2002, Bristol-Myers Squibb began to standardize the practices associated with conducting studies globally. We formed a Bioethics Committee and issued ten policies to address ethical considerations in research, particularly in the developing world. Copies of the policies are available upon request and cover:

Fundamental Ethical Aspects of Clinical Trial Design
Placebo - Controlled Trials
Informed Consent
Post-Trial Access to Therapy
Access to Therapy in Populations beyond Patients Enrolled in Clinical Trials
Publication of Negative Data
Ethical Aspects of Pediatric Studies
Indigenous Populations
PRI Clinical Research Policies - Pharmacogenetic Studies
SS&P Bioethics Policy on Patient Recruitment

We have also developed a bioethics training program that is mandatory for those involved in clinical research and development around the world. This training introduces our clinical trial policies. Case studies are presented so that the issues raised can be explored and understood. Programs like this support our goal to protect the patient.

Security

The basis for our security efforts is to protect our employees, our operations, and our intellectual property. Security personnel receive training to ensure compliance with legal requirements and respect for human rights. We incorporate security and human rights in our assessment of countries when determining where to locate operating facilities.

Contractors and Suppliers

Bristol-Myers Squibb works with contractors and suppliers in an attempt to ensure the highest level of quality, expertise, experience, and fit with our operating culture. We expect our contractors and suppliers to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements for the workplace, including health and safety, diversity, and human rights.

We periodically monitor the performance of our key suppliers, through a range of tools including surveys, reference checks, publicly available information, and site visits. Bristol-Myers Squibb may conduct a Quality or EHS evaluation of a contractor or supplier.

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