Marathon understands that its good reputation took lifetimes to build — but can be destroyed by a single unethical or thoughtless act. To support an ethical culture, the Company focuses on internal processes and tools, but it also looks to an external expert, Daryl Koehn, Ph.D., to bring an outside perspective to its business ethics practices.

 

“Sound ethics and morality have business value. As an objective ethics advisor, I can help Marathon's Business Integrity Advisory Committee look at ethical issues in a broad sense,” said Koehn, the Cullen Chair of Business Ethics at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

 

“The ethics challenge for companies never goes away because the business environment is complicated and dynamic, and new people come into organizations all the time. Marathon understands that employees need to continually learn more about business ethics.

 

“Marathon has an excellent Code of Business Conduct that was singled out by Ethisphere, an independent ethics research organization, for its comprehensiveness and clarity. But just having a Code is not enough — if employees don't know the Code, they won't use it. Marathon's Code is effective because it is monitored, applied and repeatedly reinforced.

 

“The Company's ethics training in 2008 will focus on Living the Code and applying it day-to-day. One aspect of Living the Code is trusting that you will not be subject to retaliation if you report possible violations of the Code. The Business Integrity Office and CEO Clarence Cazalot have sent a consistent message regarding exactly this point, reassuring employees that they can feel comfortable raising questions about ethical issues. Such education and
reinforcement is important to creating a healthy ethical culture and work environment.

 

“Marathon understands that the Company needs a strong Code of Business Conduct,
effective training, and a congruence of personal and institutional ethics if it is to build
and retain a mindful workforce.”