Policy Letters and Directives

At Ford, Policy Letters establish a framework of broad, basic principles within which we conduct our business globally, while Corporate Directives provide more in-depth information on narrower topics or only relate to particular segments of the business.

Many other business practices, handbooks, guidelines and business standards are used to govern the conduct of our people around the world.

The following corporate standards have a particular relevance to sustainability.

Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption

We never pay bribes nor allow others to pay bribes for us, and we comply fully with the laws of each country where we do business. Our personnel are directed to report any requests or solicitations for improper payments through our companywide reporting systems. We also have ethical standards to limit the types of entertainment, gifts and favors that our workers can give and accept.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to equal opportunity in all aspects of our business. We also recognize that a diverse workforce is a valuable asset, and we strive to provide an inclusive work environment where different ideas, perspectives and beliefs are respected and encouraged.

Our Policy Letter and Directives relating to diversity and inclusion address equal opportunity and prohibit disparate treatment because of race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status and other factors that may be covered by local law.

Health, Safety and the Environment

The protection of health, safety and the environment is a companywide responsibility of everyone at Ford. Our policies highlight the importance of sustainable economic development for Ford and for society in general. Our products, services, processes and facilities are periodically reviewed against objectives and targets that are designed to minimize waste and pollution from our operations, as well as those of our suppliers, and any adverse impact on workers’ health and safety.

Human Rights

Ford’s commitment to human rights is embodied in Policy Letter 24 (pdf, 156kb), our Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibility. This outlines our commitments on key human and labor rights issues such as working hours, child labor, forced labor, human trafficking, health and safety, harassment and discrimination, and freedom of association. It also:

Articulates our commitment to be a good corporate citizen and implement policies and programs to benefit the communities where we operate
Encourages suppliers to adopt and enforce similar policies for their own suppliers and subcontractors

Political Contributions

Ford’s Policy Letter on governmental relationships covers issues relating to public policy and political contributions. See Public Policy for more detail.

Privacy

The trust and confidence of our customers and employees are essential to building long-term relationships and delivering excellent products and services. We recognize that customers, employees and others have concerns about data privacy and security, and expect us to protect and handle personal information responsibly. We are committed to implementing responsible privacy and data-handling practices, and our relevant Policy Letters and Directives are designed to ensure continuing trust and confidence.

Product Quality and Customer Safety

Ford has a number of policy statements aimed at increasing the quality of our products and promoting the safety of our customers. Our quality policy, Policy Letter 1, forms the foundation, and stresses the importance of quality in everything we do, noting that the customer defines quality. Additionally, collaboration between employees, suppliers and dealers is vital to sustaining and improving the quality of our products.

At its core lie our Quality Operating System (QOS) and our use of key metrics to make data-driven decisions. This process includes real-world safety data, driver behavior considerations, road infrastructure and environmental factors, regulatory safety requirements and voluntary industry agreements.

Vehicle safety is a fundamental aspect of Ford’s QOS. The foundation of our corporate safety policy, Policy Letter 7, outlines our commitment to design and build vehicles that meet or exceed applicable laws and regulations, while meeting the safety needs and expectations of our customers. In line with our Policy Letter, Ford is continuously working to enhance the safety of our products.

Social Media Interactions

We encourage responsible employee participation in social media – such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, as well as blogs and online discussion forums – and have developed digital participation guidelines. We also use online resources to educate our workforce about the use of social media and the need to communicate honestly and respectfully in connection with our business.

Suppliers

Our work with Supplier Partners is governed by our Global Terms & Conditions, and by Policy Letter 24: Ford Code of Human Rights, Basic Working Conditions and Corporate Responsibility. This policy addresses workplace issues such as working hours, child labor, forced labor, non-discrimination, freedom of association, health and safety, and the environment. It applies to our own operations but we also encourage businesses throughout our supply chain to adopt similar policies in their own operations. This policy is supplemented by web-guides on a range of specific topics.