Because of the many changes in personnel since then, it is appropriate that this policy be reviewed and restated at this time. It is axiomatic that the business loyalty of every John Deere employee to the Deere organization in the performance of his work must be complete and undivided. Situations in which that loyalty might be compromised by association with or obligations to a competitor or another organization with which the Company does business obviously are not acceptable.
Conflicts of interest can arise in many ways.
No attempt will be made to enumerate all of these. One example is where an employee in a position to influence the purchase of materials or services has a financial interest in or is an officer or director of a business which is a supplier to the Company. Another example is where such an employee is subject to influence as a result of gifts received from a supplier. This danger is greatest where the employee's interest in the other business is secret and undisclosed. If the employee's superiors are aware of potentially conflicting interests, the likelihood of their being misused is greatly decreased.