Corporate culture

Alma Media’s operations are guided by the group’s values, principles of good corporate governance, and a Code of Conduct that applies to all personnel, management, and key suppliers and subcontractors. The Code of Conduct promotes responsible and sustainable business by emphasizing respect for human rights, diversity, inclusion, zero tolerance for harassment and violence, and fair competition. Our operations are steered by the equal treatment of clients and partners, transparent and fair business principles, anti-corruption efforts, and environmental responsibility.

Alma Media is committed to the UN Global Compact initiative and its Sustainable Development Goals, and adheres to international principles related to human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption. As the realization of sustainability extends across the entire value chain, the company requires its most significant suppliers to commit to the Supplier Code of Conduct and complete the associated training.

Our corporate culture is built on open communication, cooperation, continuous learning, and a safe and responsible working environment. Our goal is to foster an operational culture where everyone can be themselves, develop their skills, and contribute to shared goals. The implementation of this culture is monitored through methods such as personnel surveys, training metrics, the number of whistleblowing reports, and management assessments.

Alma Media encourages its employees and stakeholders to report any perceived legal violations and ethical shortcomings related to the company’s operations. Observations can be reported to a supervisor, human resources, or through Alma Media’s ethical reporting channel (Whistleblow), which is accessible to all internal and external stakeholders. Reports can be submitted anonymously. All violations and suspected infractions brought to the company’s attention are investigated.

The company’s corporate governance is described in more detail in the corporate governance statement.

Code of Conduct and Whistleblow

Code of Conduct guides the work of Alma Media’s employees with respect to the management of customer relationships and partnerships, ensuring fair competition and promoting sustainable development, for example.

Alma Media encourages its employees and stakeholders to report any observed legal violations and unethical conduct related to Alma Media’s operations. The observations can be reported to one’s direct supervisor, the HR function of Alma Media’s whistleblowing channel, which is available in different languages to all internal and external stakeholders on the company’s website and the websites of its various services. Reports can be submitted anonymously. All actual and suspected violations reported to the company are investigated.

Alma Media requires its key suppliers to complete a Supplier Code of Conduct training focused on Alma’s ethical guidelines.

Ethical principles of artificial intelligence and AI governance

Artificial intelligence is an integral part of the development of Alma Media’s business, services, and operating methods. The use of AI is guided by shared ethical principles and an AI governance model, which aims to ensure that AI is used safely, transparently, and in alignment with business objectives. Among other things, AI governance covers risk management, documentation, the division of responsibilities, the approval of tools, and the continuous monitoring of operations.

Alma Media’s ethical principles for artificial intelligence are based on four perspectives: safety and privacy protection, transparency and accountability, human-centricity and fairness, as well as sustainability and societal benefit. These principles guide the use of AI throughout its entire lifecycle and support the development of responsible, reliable, and competitive artificial intelligence.

Alma Media’s ethical principles for artificial intelligence are:

Safe, secure, and private: the principle covers the technical robustness, reliability and resilience against attacks as well as privacy and sound data-governance throughout the lifecycle.
Transparent and accountable: the principle covers the traceability, explainability and open communication about system capabilities, as well as clear assignment of responsibility, auditability and redress mechanisms.
Human-centric and fair: the principle covers the respect for human autonomy, meaningful oversight and the right to contest automated decisions, as well as promotion of diversity and the avoidance of unfair bias.
Sustainable and socially beneficial: the principle covers environmental and societal well-being, including climate impact, social cohesion and democratic integrity.

Collaboration and partnerships for promoting sustainable development

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Alma Media has several cooperation projects to promote sustainable development in its operating countries.

Alma Media has several cooperation projects to promote sustainable development in its operating countries. In Finland, the most significant cooperation revolves around securing a better future for young people and providing positive working life experiences for them. Together with the Finnish Children and Youth Foundation, Alma and Jobly have launched a website TET.fi introduction to working life (TET) aimed at providing all young people with equal opportunities for familiarisation with working life regardless of their place of residence or social background. In addition Alma participates in the promotion of the Finnish Children and Youth Foundation Kesätyö.fi service where young people can apply for and get summer jobs without prior work experience.

Alma has an ongoing partnership with Aalto University and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences to provide higher education students with opportunities to get acquainted with practical business problems and participate in research projects to develop the company’s business opportunities and earn academic credits.

Alma Career, which provides employment services in Eastern Central Europe, focuses on developing inclusion in working life through cooperation with companies. One example of these efforts is the Profesia Lab project launched in the Slovakian unit to use cooperation with companies to employ as many people who are marginalised from the job market, such as jobseekers with disabilities.