JD.com Releases Integrity Guidelines: Bans Employee Kickbacks, Prohibits Supplier Collaboration with Terminated Employees

In a strong move to safeguard its business practices, JD.com has issued a comprehensive “Integrity Cooperation Guidelines,” making it clear that it has zero tolerance for corruption. The e-commerce giant is sending a decisive message, particularly to its partners, emphasizing that any form of commercial bribery is strictly prohibited in their dealings with the company.

The guidelines, unveiled recently, outline four key principles for maintaining ethical business relationships. Notably, the document stipulates that suppliers are forbidden from engaging in business with employees who have been dismissed by JD.com. Further reinforcing its internal controls, JD.com also prevents employees who have left the company under normal circumstances from being responsible for interfacing with JD.com’s business operations for a period of one year.

To encourage transparency and deter malfeasance, JD.com has also established a dedicated anti-corruption reward fund, allocating an annual budget of approximately $1.4 million (10 million yuan). This fund will be used to reward whistleblowers who report corrupt activities, offering cash incentives that start at around $700 (5,000 yuan) and increase to a minimum of approximately $7,000 (50,000 yuan) for cases involving criminal investigations.

Here are the four key principles stipulated in the Integrity Cooperation Guidelines:

1. Prohibition of providing JD.com employees with any form of kickbacks, bribes, undisclosed commissions, loans, gifts, cash or cash equivalents, checks, or property rights, as well as travel, entertainment, and complimentary services.

2. Prohibition of offering JD.com employees benefits related to housing, relocation of household registration, job changes, promotions, overseas studies, or free services, as well as the bestowal of honors, titles, qualifications, positions, or privileges.

3. Prohibition of colluding with JD.com employees to artificially inflate sales or distort transactions through methods like fraudulent orders, self-purchasing, and fictitious sales, or to exploit or damage JD.com’s interests by improperly obtaining funds, coupons, virtual points, red envelopes, or other operational resources.

4. Prohibition of conducting business with employees who have been terminated by JD.com, and restriction on normal departing employees from interacting with JD.com’s business for one year.