Salesforce: Code of Conduct
Salesforce: Code of Conduct
Salesforce: Code of Conduct
CODE OF CONDUCT
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A MESSAGE FROM MARC BENIOFF
Salesforce has always had an unwavering commitment to the success of our customers.
Our focus on customer success is why we have been able to shape the new world of enterprise software
and become the world’s leading CRM company.
Our commitment to customer success, as well as philanthropy and sustainability, goes hand-in-hand
with our culture of trust, transparency, personal integrity, respect and open communication. These are
not just words, but core values that are embodied in the decisions and actions that each of us undertake
every single day.
The continued success of Salesforce depends on maintaining our culture and following our Code of
Conduct, which reinforces how those core values are at the heart of our company’s success and have a
direct impact on our ability to deliver success to our customers.
Our Code could be best summed up in the Hawaiian greeting aloha, which means compassion, respect,
and affection. It underlies our belief that we must treat others ethically and always do right by the
people who depend upon us.
That’s why I ask each of you at Salesforce to make a personal commitment to follow our Code of
Conduct. It should be used as a tool to help you make the right decisions, and take the right action in
any situation. You’ll also find practical guidance for handling situations where doing the right thing may
not be immediately clear.
If you are ever unsure or feel that the Code of Conduct is being violated, we ask you to speak up. Talk to
your manager or reach out to your contact in our Law Department or
via legalcompliance@salesforce.com.
You may also share concerns anonymously through our Ethicspoint hotline. Remember, our non-
retaliation policy means that you don’t need to be afraid of asking questions or reporting potential
issues.
Thank you for contributing to the Salesforce culture and upholding our values. We appreciate everything
you do for Salesforce and our customers every day.
Aloha,
Marc Benioff
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
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PART 1: THE CODE OF CONDUCT
This Code of Conduct outlines how Salesforce and its subsidiaries conduct business and describes the
company’s most fundamental shared values. It also helps us understand how our values affect the way
the company does business.
Of course aloha is a greeting, but in Hawaiian it also expresses compassion and respect.
Salesforce’s aloha culture embodies the commitment to treat others well and always do right by
the people who depend on the company.
It is always important to do the right thing. Referring to this Code and following company policies,
applicable laws, rules and regulations at all times will help enable you to make the right choices.
However, if you ever have questions or concerns about a section of this Code, a company policy, a law,
rule, or regulation, you should contact the Law Department at legalcompliance@salesforce.com.
Every person can make a big difference, so it is vital that all employees act with integrity and in
accordance with local laws. That is why this Code applies to everyone at Salesforce, including at our
subsidiaries. Above all, this Code helps employees maintain the trust Salesforce has built with its
customers, employees, and others who have a stake in the company’s success. That trust is what helps
all Salesforce employees succeed every day.
If you report using Ethicspoint, you may be able to report anonymously, depending on the local
laws where you work. Try to provide as much information as possible so that your report can be
fully investigated.
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Good faith reporting and non-retaliation
Acting in good faith means that all reports of possible violations of this Code, company policy, or the law
are made sincerely and honestly. In other words, it does not matter whether your report turns out to be
true, but you must make it with the best intentions.
In return, the company is committed to non-retaliation. In order to operate effectively, it is vital for all
company employees to trust and respect each other. Retaliating against someone who has made a
report or participated in an investigation is not tolerated.
Investigations and discipline
Reports will be investigated in a respectful, professional manner as promptly and confidentially as
possible. If you are asked to participate in an investigation, you are required to cooperate fully.
Violations of this Code and other company policies are taken seriously. There are consequences for
violating this Code or other company policies, which may include termination of employment.
Go to Reporting FAQs
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TRANSPARENCY
Avoid even the appearance of a potential conflict of interest. If you believe that you may have a
potential conflict of interest, discuss it with your manager right away. Your manager can help
you work out a way to manage the conflict. Remember, it is your responsibility to act
appropriately until the situation has been addressed.
Working with family members
It is natural to want the best for your family, but when family members interact in the workplace it is
easy for it to look like favoritism. Addressing these situations proactively can prevent problems.
If two family members both work for Salesforce, one family member cannot report to another.
If your family member owns or works for a company that does business with Salesforce, you
must disclose this fact. Absent pre-approval by the Law Department, you may not manage the
relationship with the other company.
A family member is a parent, sibling, spouse, child, in-law, grandparent, grandchild, step-
relative, domestic partner, or another person, if they are regularly residing in your household.
Outside work
You are expected to devote your full professional energies to your work at Salesforce. All side jobs or
personal business activities that are profit-related need to be disclosed to the Law Department.
Salesforce encourages everyone to participate in nonprofit activities, consistent with our commitment
to giving back to our communities.
For any profit-related activities that would take time away from your job or create a
potential conflict with the company, you need approval from your manager and the
Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel, even if you are not personally being
compensated for the outside activity. Click here to access a request form. If you have
been asked to sit on the Board of Directors or an Advisory Board of a for-profit
organization (even if you are not being compensated for it), you need approval from
your manager and the Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel. Click here to access a
request form.
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For any nonprofit activities that would conflict or could conflict with the company’s
business, you need approval from your manager. If you have been asked to sit on the
Board of Directors of a nonprofit organization, you also need to get approval from your
manager and the Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel. Click here to access a request
form.
Financial interests
Holding a significant or controlling interest in one of Salesforce’s competitors, customers, or suppliers
could create a divided loyalty, or at least the appearance of one. This also applies to financial interests
held by a member of your household or immediate family. Financial interests that pose a potential
conflict of interest require approval from your manager and the Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel.
In addition, the Board of Directors has adopted guidelines relating to potential conflicts of interest that
may arise in connection with investments by Company officers in privately held companies. Such
investments generally require pre-clearance by the Law Department. Click here to access the guidelines.
Corporate opportunities
Employees cannot take advantage personally of business or investment opportunities that are
discovered through the use of company property, business, or information. Such actions are considered
to be competing with Salesforce and must be avoided.
Bribery is offering or giving something of value in order to improperly influence the recipient’s
actions. Bribery is illegal in every jurisdiction in which Salesforce does business.
A facilitation payment is a tip or small payment made to a government official in order to
expedite a routine government action, such as issuing a permit or providing utility service. This is
illegal in most jurisdictions and not allowed under the Global Anti-Corruption Policy.
A kickback is the return of a sum paid (or due to be paid) as a reward for fostering a business
arrangement. Accepting or offering a kickback violates this Code.
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Bribery is illegal in the U.S. and most other countries and the consequences are severe, including
jail sentences.
Relationships with government officials
If you interact with government officials on Salesforce’s behalf, be particularly careful about gifts, meals,
and entertainment. Laws and regulations governing what companies like Salesforce can give
government officials are very strict, including in the U.S. Be sure you know what the rules are under the
Global Anti-Corruption Policy. Contact the Law Department before offering or providing any gifts, meals,
or entertainment to government officials. All interactions with government officials that are not sales-
related require the oversight of our Government Affairs team.
All information must be recorded accurately, whether it is tracking work hours, expenses
(including your expense reports), or sales contracts. When these are timely and accurate, the
company is able to make informed decisions about how to run its business and plan for the
future. Company records, including disclosures and filings, must be accurate, complete, and
timely, so that Salesforce fulfills its obligations to external stakeholders, including its
stockholders.
Document management and retention
When deciding what documents to save, archive, or trash, always check the Records Management
Policy, Records Management Procedures Manual and Records Retention Schedule for details about how
long various documents should be retained. This policy applies to all kinds of documents, both paper
and electronic.
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At some point you may be notified that a “legal hold” has been placed on documents in your
possession. If this happens, please review the legal hold notice carefully. If you have any
questions about the notice and what you should do, please reach out to the Law Department so
that you are 100% clear regarding your obligations. The key thing to remember is never to alter,
conceal, or destroy any document under a legal hold.
Salesforce sometimes receive requests for information from national or local government
officials. If they contact you, be sure to notify Legal for assistance in handling the request
promptly, accurately, and completely.
You are responsible for knowing and following the appropriate rules and procedures for imports
and exports. If you are involved in international transactions, it is important to know what is
expected of the company, including any requirements related to taxes, verification, licensing,
and permits. For additional information on handling imports and exports, see the Trade with
Embargoed Countries Policy.
Go to Transparency Q&As
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TRUST
You are responsible for safeguarding all confidential and sensitive data such as:
Business plans or strategies
Financial results
Product designs and concepts
Sales goals and marketing plans
Terms and conditions, rates, or fees offered to particular customers
Other, non-public information that might be of use to competitors
For detailed information about how to protect information and what your specific
responsibilities are, see the Information Security Policies.
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Intellectual property
Salesforce depends on good ideas, so it is important to protect those ideas through legal tools such as
copyrights and patents. Collectively, all of this intangible property is called intellectual property (IP), and
it includes all copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade secrets, design rights, logos, and brands. Keep in
mind that Salesforce owns the rights to all IP created with company materials or on company time.
Who, exactly?
Third parties. In the course of doing business, sometimes employees will learn
confidential information about customers, suppliers, and other business partners.
Protecting the data of these third parties is one of Salesforce’s highest values.
Former employers. When a new team member joins Salesforce, employees have to
respect that this person cannot share confidential information about previous employers.
Similarly, you would still be responsible for protecting Salesforce’s information if you left
the company.
If your job enables you to have access to personal information regarding other employees (data
like home addresses, medical information, and Social Security numbers), then you are
responsible for helping to protect it. That means using the information only for legitimate
business purposes, and not sharing it with anyone who does not have a work-related reason to
see it.
Security
The security of the Company’s premises and property is the shared responsibility of all employees.
Proper access credentials are to be visibly displayed by employees, contractors and visitors at all times
while on Company premises. No one should be granted access in to Company premises without a
validated credential.
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Competing Fairly
All employees are expected to follow competition laws throughout the world, which ensure a level
playing field for all businesses.
These laws (also known as antitrust laws in the U.S.) prohibit agreements that would restrain
trade. For example, a few common—and illegal—examples include:
Price fixing, where competitors or partners agree to charge a certain price for certain
products or services
Bid rigging, where competitors agree among themselves to bid in a way that allows a
certain bidder to win
Dividing or allocating markets, where competitors agree to limit their sales presence so
that each company can be the only available choice for buyers in a given market
Boycotting, where competitors agree to avoid a particular customer or supplier
Agreements among companies not to hire their respective employees
Keep in mind that agreements do not have to be signed contracts to be illegal. An informal
understanding between you and a competitor, or even a conversation that implies an
understanding, may be a problem. If any of these topics come up while you are talking with a
competitor, stop the conversation immediately and report it to the Law Department.
Fair Dealing
Salesforce is committed to being honest and truthful with all of its customers, vendors, and other
business partners. Never misrepresent the quality, features, or availability of the company’s products,
and never do anything illegal or unethical to win business. For additional information on the company’s
commitment to fair dealing and your specific responsibilities in preventing fraud, see the Anti-Fraud
Policy.
Trying to obtain information by lying or pretending to be someone you are not is unethical,
could be illegal, and is generally in poor taste. Don’t do it. And if you receive another company’s
confidential or proprietary information by mistake, return or destroy it. You may also reach out
to the Law Department for questions.
Go to Trust Q&As
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RESPECT
Personal Dignity
Solid teamwork requires all employees to treat each other with dignity and respect.
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Workplace Health and Safety
Salesforce is committed to providing the safest work environment possible. Our programs
focus on general safety awareness and incident response. Follow all safety rules and report
unsafe situations. You can find more information on the Company’s Health & Safety
Management System here.
Violence and weapons
Violence and threats of violence are not acceptable at Salesforce. If you believe someone is in
immediate danger, contact the local authorities right away.
Substance abuse
The use of illegal drugs and inappropriate or excessive use of alcohol are not permitted in the
workplace.
For more information, refer to the Alcohol, Drugs & Illegal Substance Abuse policy in the
company’s Employee Handbook.
Go to Respect Q&As
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COMMUNICATION
External Communications
Salesforce has an open and transparent culture, and the Communications Policy governs how the
company communicates to the public responsibly.
Investors and the media
All inquiries from the media must be directed to the Public Relations team. If you have any questions,
contact pr@salesforce.com.
Similarly, inquiries from investors or the investment community must always be directed to the Investor
Relations team at investor@salesforce.com
Social media
Remember, the Internet is a public place, so handle yourself accordingly.
Political Activities
You are encouraged to be involved in the political activities of your choice. Be clear in such activities that
your participation is your own choice, not an endorsement from the company. Salesforce will not
reimburse you for your personal political contributions.
Do not use company time or resources for your personal political activities.
If you are involved in lobbying, make sure you know what the rules are.
Contact the Law Department if you anticipate making a large political contribution, even as
an individual, to ensure compliance with disclosure laws relevant to the company.
Go to Communication Q&As
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WAIVERS
It is rare for anyone to be exempted from any part of this Code, regardless of seniority or position.
Waivers may only be granted in a manner permitted by law, with review and approval by the Chief Legal
Officer or General Counsel, and, if required under applicable regulations, review and approval by the
Board of Directors or a committee of the Board, with public disclosure of any waiver to the extent
required by applicable regulations.
MAHALO!
The key values in this Code can be summed up in the word aloha.
A - ala, watchful, alertness
L - lokahi, working with unity
O - oia'i'o, truthful honesty
H - ha'aha'a, humility
A - ahonui, patient perseverance
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PART 2: Q&A
ALOHA
Reporting
Q: What should I do if the Code does not answer my question?
A: Check another resource, like the policies referenced in the Code or in Policyforce, the
company’s policy tool, or ask! If your manager doesn’t have the answer, he or she can help you
find someone who does. Chatter groups can be a resource, too. You can also reach out to
legalcompliance@salesforce.com.
Q: What should I do if I think there has been a Code violation, but I cannot prove it?
A: Go ahead and report your suspicions, as long as you are raising the concern in good faith.
Q: If I report something, will the complaint be handled confidentially?
A: Yes, but only to a point. Investigations into complaints are as confidential as possible while still
being thorough and complete.
Q: When should I use Ethicspoint?
A: You can use Ethicspoint for any report related to a potential violation of this Code. You can also
raise any issue to your manager, Employee Success, or the Law Department.
Q: What if my manager is involved in the issue I want to report?
A: You can ask for help from another manager you trust. Plus, other options like Employee Success
and Legal are available to you, or you can use Ethicspoint.
Q: What if I report and someone retaliates against me? Could I lose my job?
A: Retaliation is not tolerated at Salesforce. If it does happen, or if you suspect it has, you should
report it.
TRANSPARENCY
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Q: I have been asked to be on the board of a nonprofit that I have volunteered with for years. Is it
okay to participate on nonprofit boards?
A: Yes, this is generally acceptable, though you still need to disclose the situation and obtain
approval from the Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel and your manager. Click here to access
a request form.
Q: My dad owns his own business, a small company that uses Sales Cloud to drive business. I am a
part-owner of my dad’s company. I am also a strategic account manager for Salesforce. One of
the accounts assigned to me is my dad’s company. What should I do?
A: You need to disclose this to your manager so that someone else can handle this company’s
account. Additionally, you must seek approval for your ownership interest in your dad’s
company from your manager and either the Chief Legal Officer or General Counsel (or a
designee of either). Click here to access a request form.
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Q: What do you do if someone offers you a bribe? What do you do if someone requests a bribe?
A: Salesforce does not accept or provide bribes ever. In both cases you’d have to politely refuse.
You should also report the attempt immediately to the Law Department.
Handling Exports
Q: Since our business is in the cloud and we don’t sell a physical product, we don’t really have to
worry about export rules, do we?
A: Actually, we do. Information and services are examples of exports. If you work with customers
or colleagues in other countries, be sure to find out how export law affects your work and make
sure you know what to do. Familiarize yourself with our externally facing export law compliance
page on our website, know our Trade with Embargoed Countries Policy, and consult Legal with
further questions.
TRUST
Q: Is it acceptable to use my Salesforce computer to work on a freelance project?
A: No. Material created on Salesforce equipment belongs to Salesforce—and so does your work
time at the company. Freelance projects (if approved by your manager and Legal) need to be
limited to your own time and your own equipment unless otherwise approved by the General
Counsel or Chief Legal Officer.
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Protecting Confidential Information
Q: When is it permissible to disclose sensitive (confidential) information externally?
A: In order to disclose sensitive information with someone outside Salesforce, you have to make
sure that the recipient has signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement and has been approved for the
kind of information you want to share. Check with your manager or the Law Department if you
are not sure.
Fair Dealing
Q: What if a customer asks me a question I don’t know the answer to? Is it not better to say
something other than “I’ll get back to you on that”?
A: Not if that is the only answer you have at the time. Our customers trust us to be knowledgeable,
but no one has all of the answers at their fingertips. If you do not know something, don’t lie. In
fact, don’t make any statements you cannot back up with facts. Part of dealing fairly with our
customers and others is admitting when we don’t know, and having the diligence to follow up as
soon as possible.
RESPECT
Personal Dignity
Q: A co-worker keeps asking me out, even though I have rejected him. What can I do?
A: You should report the behavior to your manager, Employee Success, or Ethicspoint. The co-
worker’s refusal to take a rejection at face value is not respectful, and needs to stop. Any report
of harassment will be handled seriously and as confidentially as reasonably possible.
COMMUNICATION
External Inquiries
Q: I saw an online posting that says bad things about the company. The author even claims to work
at Salesforce, and based on the username, I think I know who it is. What do I do?
A: You should report your concerns to your manager. Always maintain a respectful and
professional demeanor online, just as you would in person. You need to also let the Public
Relations and the Law Department know about the post, so they can take appropriate action.
Q: I have been asked to speak at a conference. Who would need to give approval?
A: Presenting at a work-related conference is fine, as long as you provide publicly available
information and obtain certain reviews and approvals in advance. Before accepting, you are
required to discuss with your manager and notify the Public Relations department. Public
Relations must review and approve any materials you plan to present. Additionally, only
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members of the Investor Relations team and certain other senior members of management are
authorized to present information regarding the company’s financial results or present to the
investment community.
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