Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC) and training
The code outlines our expectations for suppliers, and their employees, personnel, agents, and subcontractors.
We expect companies to embrace this commitment to integrity while conducting business with and/or on behalf of Microsoft.
Learn about your responsibilities as a Microsoft supplier
Read the Microsoft Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC) to review how our values, integrity, honesty, and compliance extend throughout the supplier ecosystem.
Play the 12-minute Standards of Business conduct video > | Read about the recent refresh >
About the Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC)
At Microsoft, we have the tremendous opportunity to work with thousands of suppliers in over 100 countries across the globe. We rely on these suppliers every day to support our mission of empowering every person and organization on the planet to achieve more - and realize their full potential. Our partnership is more than building innovative technology and delivering solutions that transform the way we live - it's about our values, who we are as a company and individuals, and how we manage our businesses while working together.
We require suppliers to be aware of, attest to, train on, and always adhere to the SCoC. The SCoC and training focus on:
Doing business ethically when it comes to anti-corruption, conflicts of interest, hiring practices, human rights, and honesty in business and corporate recording
Demonstrating respect and inclusion - ensuring accessibility, the ability to raise workplace concerns, and share our climate and environmental commitments
Protecting information, data, and Intellectual Property rights
And of course, ensuring privacy rules and regulations are met for all
Thank you – to our Microsoft suppliers for your continued collaboration and hard work - helping ensure Microsoft runs on trust.
Supplier Code of Conduct training
Microsoft expects suppliers to act ethically and with integrity. Suppliers demonstrate this commitment by complying with our Supplier Code of Conduct and ensuring that their eligible employees and subcontractors are trained annually on the SCoC.
Annual supplier managed training requirements:
- On an annual basis, an authorized representative from the supplier must review and acknowledge the SCoC, and complete the Microsoft SCoC training course. Confirmation of this must be attested to annually in Microsoft’s SupplierWeb platform.
- Suppliers are required to train eligible employees and subcontractors working on Microsoft matters annually on the content of the SCoC.
In addition to Supplier’s training obligations noted above, all external staff requiring access credentials to the Microsoft corporate network and/or buildings are required to complete SCoC training before they obtain their access rights. This training will be managed and provided by Microsoft.
For more information on the SCoC training requirements, review the training requirements FAQs.
FAQs
General information
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The requirement to comply with the Supplier Code of Conduct is detailed online, through various Principal agreements, and in our PO Terms and Conditions. Additionally, suppliers acknowledge the Supplier Code of Conduct during the Microsoft supplier setup process.
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Refer to the Supplier Travel Guidelines PDF.
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Suppliers and their employees, personnel, agents, and subcontractors (collectively referred to as "Suppliers") must adhere to this Supplier Code of Conduct while conducting business with or on behalf of Microsoft. Suppliers must require their subcontractors to acknowledge and implement the SCoC in their operations and across their supply chains for work that is directly related to a Microsoft contract. Suppliers must promptly inform their Microsoft contact, a member of Microsoft management, or any method provided at http://www.microsoftintegrity.com/ when any situation develops that causes the supplier to operate in violation of this Code of Conduct.
All Microsoft suppliers must conduct their practices in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and in compliance with the Supplier Code of Conduct, whichever are stricter.
Additionally, on an annual basis, an authorized representative from the Supplier shall review and acknowledge the SCoC, and complete Microsoft's SCoC training course. Confirmation of this shall be attested to annually in Microsoft's SupplierWeb platform. Suppliers will receive email communication from Microsoft when their annual attestation is due.
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All contacts can be updated in SupplierWeb. Access the contacts page in the supplier profile to make updates directly to your SCoC compliance contact. This person(s) will receive information regarding the SCoC from Microsoft.
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Companies may be doing business with Microsoft in a variety of capacities. To the extent that a company is exclusively engaged with Microsoft in a Partner capacity and is not providing any procured goods or services to Microsoft, compliance with Microsoft's Partner Code of Conduct and related training requirements would be sufficient at this time. However, if a company is engaged with Microsoft in both a partner and supplier capacity, it is expected that in addition to compliance with the Partner Code, they must comply with the Microsoft Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC).
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Suppliers can find information online via the Supplier Accessibility Procurement page.
Training requirements
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Microsoft trusts our suppliers to ensure all their employees working with or on behalf of Microsoft, both with and without network/building access, are trained annually on our Supplier Code of Conduct.
Suppliers can choose from the following methods to meet their SCoC training obligations:
Suppliers can leverage Microsoft’s SCoC training course (Note: this link does not record course completion status)
Suppliers can download a SCORM package of Microsoft’s SCoC training course for use in their own LMS (Learning Management System)
Suppliers can develop their own training method and materials to train their applicable workers on Microsoft’s SCoC content
Suppliers are expected to have appropriate record-keeping systems for their employee SCoC training completions.
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Any external staff engaged in services for Microsoft, or who will bill time to Microsoft, or who otherwise work on Microsoft matters are required to complete SCoC training and agree to comply with the SCoC. External staff includes contractors, vendors, business guests, and Outsourced staff.
This requirement is not time specific and applies to anyone working with or on behalf of Microsoft for any period. We trust our suppliers to use appropriate judgement in how to interpret this.
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All external staff who are onboarding through Microsoft systems, requiring access, must complete training prior to being granted access to Microsoft’s Corporate Network and/or buildings. As part of the external staff setup process, external staff workers receive an email notification containing a link to complete the online training. Once the external staff worker completes the training, the process for granting access to Microsoft’s Corporate Network and/or buildings will proceed.
Note: In addition to the pre-access/onboarding training requirement managed by Microsoft, suppliers are accountable to train all employees and agents working on Microsoft matters on an annual basis.
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Microsoft pre-access training is in addition to the annual supplier training obligation. It is the responsibility of the supplier to meet the annual training requirement for each external staff engaged in services for Microsoft, regardless if the Microsoft pre-access training was also completed that year.
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Yes, in addition to supplier’s training obligations, Microsoft requires and automatically provides SCoC training to all external staff requiring access credentials to the Microsoft corporate network and/or buildings before they obtain their access rights. This is referred to as pre-access/onboarding training and managed by Microsoft.
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They are still required to complete SCoC training on an annual basis. Their employer (Microsoft supplier) has the responsibility to ensure they are trained annually.
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The SCoC training takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.
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Yes, the Microsoft’s SCoC training course is localized in 13 languages: Chinese (simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese. Transcripts of the SCoC training course in all 13 languages may also be downloaded at the aforementioned link.
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Access your supplier account on SupplierWeb and select the 'I need help' button located in the lower right corner.
Background screening
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For the United States, Canada, or Latin America, please contact supscrn@microsoft.com.
For Asia or EMEA regions, please contact esscrng@microsoft.com.
If suppliers' employees have questions, they should contact their Human Resources department or management directly.
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Microsoft can assist with performing a self-pay screen. This will allow for a supplier employee to be screened when the supplier does not have an account set up. The screen will be paid for upon submittal by the person being screened. Suppliers' employee will receive a notification once the screening is complete. If required, the background screening identification number can be provided to the supplier.
Contact supscrn@microsoft.com if you have an onboarding request.
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Microsoft requires that suppliers conduct pre-placement background checks on all their personnel who will require any physical or virtual access to Microsoft. This includes owned or leased facilities or Microsoft corporate network resources. This requirement applies to all locations where background screening has been implemented.
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Microsoft requires that suppliers conduct pre-placement background checks on all their personnel who will require any physical or virtual access to Microsoft. Any supplier employee who refuses a background screen is not eligible to obtain Microsoft credentials for physical or corporate network access.
Supplier benefits for US-based workers
FAQs in this section relate to the SCoC requirements for applicable US-based workers outlined in Section 9 of the SCoC.
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This builds on steps Microsoft has taken to increase workforce inclusion and support employees and their families. We believe that it was the right step for our business.
Paid time off and paid parental leave benefits both employers and employees by contributing to a happier and more productive workforce. We have long recognized that the health, well-being, and diversity of our employees helps Microsoft succeed. That's why we have long provided industry-leading benefits for our employees, including paid time off and paid parental leave. The people who work for our suppliers are critical to our success, and we want them to have these benefits.
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Yes.
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