LingoYou Code of Ethics

The principles that guide our choices and our relationships.

1. Introduction and purpose

LingoYou connects people, companies and institutions through language services and technological solutions. Operating between different languages, cultures and contexts involves a responsibility that goes beyond the quality of the individual service: it requires attention to people, fairness in relationships and awareness of the consequences of one’s decisions.

This Code of Ethics sets out the values and principles of conduct on which LingoYou bases its operations. It serves as a guide for day-to-day decision-making, the management of professional relationships and the organisation’s development.

Its aims are:

• Promote honest, responsible and consistent behavior.
• Protecting the dignity, rights and equal opportunities of people.
• Build trusting relationships with customers, collaborators and partners.
• Promoting the quality of services and a responsible use of innovation.
• Prevent discrimination, abuse and misconduct.
• Supporting growth that is attentive to social and environmental impacts.

2. Recipients and scope of application

The Code is aimed at Management, those in positions of responsibility, employees and those who collaborate with LingoYou, regardless of their role, location or working mode.

LingoYou also requires language professionals, consultants, suppliers and partners to behave in accordance with these principles in the context of their relationships with the company.

The principles apply to face-to-face and remote activities, business trips, events, business relationships and communications carried out through digital tools.

Each recipient is called upon to be aware of the Code, to respect it within the scope of their responsibilities and to seek clarification when a situation presents ethical doubts. No economic, operational or commercial objective justifies conduct contrary to its principles.

3. Legality, integrity and accountability

3.1 Compliance with the rules

LingoYou operates in compliance with applicable laws, contractual obligations and company regulations. Each person is required to act within the limits of his or her role and the authorizations received.

Professional correctness also requires recognizing one’s limits, avoiding unsustainable commitments and promptly reporting circumstances that may compromise the regular performance of activities.

3.2 Prevention of corruption

No offers, requests or acceptances of money, favours or other advantages aimed at obtaining preferential treatment or improperly influencing a decision are allowed.

Gifts and forms of hospitality must be occasional, of limited value and compatible with the applicable rules. They must not compromise, nor appear to compromise, the independence of judgment of those who receive them.

3.3 Conflicts of interest

Decisions must be made in the interest of the organization and on the basis of professional and objective criteria.

Personal relationships, economic interests or external assignments that may interfere with the impartiality of the choices must be communicated promptly. Those who find themselves in a situation of conflict of interest, even potential, must avoid influencing the decision until it is properly managed.

4. Dignity, diversity and inclusion

LingoYou recognizes the value of each person and considers the diversity of experiences, languages, cultures, and perspectives to be an asset to the organization.

It promotes relationships based on respect, listening and collaboration, without discrimination related to gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, origin, nationality, language, age, disability, religion, political opinions, health conditions, personal or family situation.

Individual differences must not become a reason for exclusion, devaluation or limitation of professional opportunities.

LingoYou is committed to identifying and reducing the organizational, communication and behavioral barriers that hinder people’s participation, also paying attention to the accessibility of tools and work environments.

5. Gender equality and equal opportunities

Gender equality is a transversal principle in the management of people. It must guide selection processes, work organization, training, remuneration and professional development.

5.1 Selection and recruitment

Applications must be evaluated on the basis of skills, experience, potential and requirements actually necessary for the role.

Announcements, interviews and evaluation criteria must avoid gender stereotypes. Discriminatory evaluations related to marital status, pregnancy, intention to have children or family responsibilities are not allowed.

5.2 Training and professional growth

LingoYou is committed to providing equal access to training, further education and career opportunities.

The assignment of responsibilities, assignments and promotions must be based on comprehensible and consistent criteria, valuing skills, contributions and results. Particular attention is paid to removing obstacles that limit women’s professional growth and their participation in decision-making processes.

5.3 Fair pay

LingoYou pursues pay equity for equal work or for work of equal value.

Compensation, awards, benefits and recognition must be defined through objective criteria, such as responsibility, skills, experience and achievement, avoiding disparities based on gender or other personal characteristics.

The company undertakes to verify any differences not justified by objective factors and to identify corrective actions.

5.4 Culture and communication

Internal and external communication must respect the dignity of people and avoid sexist representations, discriminatory expressions and stereotypes.

Those who exercise organisational responsibilities are called upon to encourage participation, recognise the contribution of people and combat behaviour that produces exclusion or unequal treatment.

6. Well-being, parenting and work-life balance

LingoYou recognizes the importance of a sustainable balance between work, personal life, and family responsibilities.

It is committed to promoting a work organization that is attentive to loads, the scheduling of activities and respect for rest times, evaluating flexibility solutions compatible with roles and operational needs.

Maternity, paternity, the use of leave and care responsibilities must not be a reason for penalising evaluation, remuneration or growth opportunities.

The company supports the sharing of family responsibilities and is committed to encouraging the return after periods of prolonged absence, through discussion, updating and organizational support.

7. Health, safety and harassment prevention

7.1 Health and Safety Protection

LingoYou promotes working conditions that are attentive to people’s physical health and psychological well-being.

Each recipient is required to comply with the applicable safety measures, use tools and equipment correctly and report risk situations, even in remote activities, away or at customers’ premises.

7.2 Behaviour not tolerated

Violence, sexual harassment, psychological harassment, intimidation, threats, humiliation, abuse of power or other conduct detrimental to personal dignity are not tolerated.

Unacceptable behaviors, even when they manifest themselves through digital tools, include:

• Offensive, sexist or disparaging comments.
• Unwanted sexual attention, contact or proposals.
• Dissemination of offensive or inappropriate images or content.
• Pressures related to a hierarchical relationship or professional dependence.
• Intentional exclusions or repeated behaviors aimed at isolating or discrediting a person.

Those in positions of responsibility must pay attention to signs of distress and contribute to the prevention and proper management of these situations.

8. Quality and ethics of language services

8.1 Competence and appropriateness of the assignments

LingoYou is committed to assigning tasks based on the necessary linguistic, technical and sectoral skills.

Professionals are asked to communicate any limits of competence, unavailability or conditions that may compromise the execution of the assignment. Continuous training and professional comparison contribute to maintaining quality.

8.2 Fidelity, accuracy and respect for the context

In translation and interpreting, content must be treated with attention to meaning, purpose, and cultural context.

Omissions, additions or unjustified alterations are not allowed. Any ambiguities or critical issues must be reported and managed through the project contact persons.

In adaptation and transcreation assignments, creative choices must remain consistent with the brief and agreed objectives.

8.3 Impartiality and limitations of the role

Professionals in charge of interpreting must maintain impartiality, discretion and respect for the boundaries of their role, avoiding personal interference in communication.

Any relationships or interests that may compromise professional independence must be declared before the assignment or as soon as they become known.

8.4 Error Handling

Errors, delays and non-conformities must be addressed promptly and transparently.

LingoYou promotes an approach oriented towards solving problems, analyzing the causes and preventing their recurrence, without hiding critical issues relevant to the customer or the people involved.

9. Customer relations and commercial fairness

Customer relationships must be based on listening, reliability and clarity.

Quotes, offers and contracts must describe the service, economic conditions, timeframes, responsibilities and any limits in a comprehensible way. Significant changes must be communicated and agreed.

LingoYou rejects deceptive business practices and unverifiable claims about qualifications, certifications, performance or achievements.

Requests, observations and complaints must be handled professionally, encouraging discussion and the search for proportionate solutions. Respect for competition excludes the dissemination of false or disparaging information about other operators.

10. Confidentiality, data protection and intellectual property

10.1 Protection of Information

Documents, conversations, personal data and business information entrusted to LingoYou must be processed exclusively for authorized purposes.

Access and sharing must be limited to those persons who actually need it to carry out their duties. Confidentiality obligations continue even after the professional relationship has ended.

10.2 Tool Safety

Each recipient is responsible for using authorized tools, safeguarding credentials, securing devices, and avoiding unnecessary transfers or copies of information.

Loss, suspicious access, incorrect consignments or other possible compromises must be reported promptly to the responsible contact persons.

10.3 Content Rights

LingoYou respects copyrights, software licenses and intellectual property.

Content, translations, recordings, images and materials of customers may not be reused for personal, promotional, training or technological development purposes without appropriate authorization and verification of the applicable conditions.

11. Innovation and responsible artificial intelligence

LingoYou promotes innovation as a tool to improve the quality, accessibility and efficiency of services.

The use of artificial intelligence must be consistent with the nature of the assignment, the agreements with the client, the sensitivity of the information and the consequences of any errors.

In particular, LingoYou undertakes to:

• Clearly communicate the nature of the service and the level of human intervention expected.
• Use authorized tools that are appropriate to data protection needs.
• Provide controls proportionate to the risk and intended use of the content.
• Pay attention to errors, omissions, and discriminatory results.
• Maintain clear human accountability for the decisions and outcomes used.

The adoption of a technology does not eliminate the duty to verify its adequacy nor does it justify the dissemination of inaccurate or uncontrolled content with respect to the agreed service.

12. Relations with collaborators, suppliers and partners

LingoYou builds professional relationships based on expertise, reliability, mutual respect, and clarity of conditions.

The selection of collaborators and suppliers must follow objective criteria, considering quality, experience, economic sustainability and correctness of behavior.

Assignments, fees, deadlines and payment conditions must be defined transparently. LingoYou is committed to respecting the agreements and handling any disputes through documented and professional discussion.

The company rejects forced labour, child labour and all forms of exploitation. It requires its partners to respect fundamental rights, the dignity of people and the principles of non-discrimination.

13. Relations with institutions and public administrations

Relations with institutions, authorities and public administrations must be based on legality, transparency and collaboration.

Information, statements and documents provided must be fair and verifiable. Improper pressure, undue advantage or behaviour aimed at altering decisions, assessments or award procedures are not allowed.

Those who work on behalf of LingoYou must comply with the authorizations received and ensure adequate traceability of the activities under their responsibility.

14. Protection of resources and correctness of registrations

Assets, tools, economic resources and business systems must be used with care and for authorized purposes.

Each person is responsible for the correctness of the information they produce or record, including project data, hours worked, performance performed, reimbursements, and administrative documents.

Forgeries, intentional omissions or alterations aimed at concealing errors, obtaining undue advantages or misrepresenting the activity carried out are not permitted.

15. Social and environmental responsibility

LingoYou recognizes the social value of access to information and communication between cultures.

Through its activities, it intends to contribute to the reduction of language barriers, promoting participation and mutual understanding.

In operational management, it promotes a conscious use of resources, the reduction of waste and attention to the impact of purchases, consumption and travel. Digital and organizational choices must also be evaluated with respect to environmental benefits and people’s well-being.

Communications on social and environmental commitments must be concrete, proportionate and verifiable.

16. Reporting and protection of the persons involved

Anyone who becomes aware of possible violations of the Code is invited to report them through the company channels provided, providing, as far as possible, useful elements for the assessment.

LingoYou undertakes to make the reporting methods and the persons in charge of management known, providing an alternative path when the report concerns the usual contact person.

Reports must be examined promptly, impartially and confidentially, limiting knowledge of the information to those involved in its management.

Retaliation, threats or penalties against those who make a report in good faith or collaborate in its verification are not allowed. Failure to confirm the facts does not constitute, in itself, evidence of bad faith.

The dignity and confidentiality of the persons reported must also be protected, avoiding early conclusions. Knowingly false reports made to harm other people are incompatible with the Code.

17. Implementation, monitoring and updating

The Management promotes the application of the Code, supports its dissemination and identifies organisational responsibilities consistent with the commitments undertaken.

Those who coordinate other people are called upon to set an example through their own behavior, encourage discussion and intervene on critical issues of which they become aware.

LingoYou is committed to translating the principles of the Code into verifiable practices, training activities and objectives, paying particular attention to the quality of work, inclusion, gender equality and the prevention of harmful conduct.

Any violations shall be assessed in accordance with applicable rules, contracts and procedures. The measures taken must be proportionate to the seriousness of the facts and accompanied, where necessary, by corrective action.

The Code is reviewed periodically to keep it consistent with the evolution of LingoYou’s organization, activities and responsibilities.

18. Support for youth employment – Youth Bonus

The company Lingo You S.r.l., with its registered office in Cinisello Balsamo, Via delle Fosse Ardeatine 4, hired two staff members on permanent contracts on 9 June 2025, both with professional profiles and clerical status, making use of the Youth Bonus provided for in Article 22 of Decree-Law No. 60 of 7 May 2024, converted, with amendments, by Law No. 95.

The initiative is being implemented as part of the 2021–2027 National Programme for Young People, Women and Employment, co-funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), and is aimed at supporting stable youth employment.

The contribution relief is granted to the employer within the limits and subject to the conditions laid down by current legislation, the National Programme and the applicable implementing provisions.

The contribution benefit applies exclusively to the employer’s contribution and does not entail any reduction in the employee’s pay, pay grade or entitlements.

Co-funded by the European Union
National Programme for Young People, Women and Work 2021–2027
European Social Fund Plus – ESF+