Adidas has confirmed that it is conducting an intensive investigation into allegations of employees receiving kickbacks from service providers in China. The company received an anonymous letter outlining possible violations of its code of conduct and is now working with external lawyers to address the issue. While no evidence has been provided for these allegations, the company takes compliance seriously and is committed to upholding laws and ethical standards in all markets.
The anonymous letter, reportedly signed by “Adidas China Employees,” was briefly visible on the Chinese social media platform “Xiaohongshu.” It accused several employees, including a manager responsible for Adidas’ marketing budget in China, of receiving kickbacks from service providers. Another high-ranking employee in a different division was accused of receiving cash and benefits in kind from suppliers.
Despite these allegations, Adidas is experiencing growth in China following a challenging period due to the pandemic and calls for boycotts. The company expects double-digit growth rates in China, attributing part of this success to refocusing on Chinese fashion tastes under the leadership of country boss Adrian Siu. In other news, there have been criticisms of the premature announcement of a new health management organization (HMO) plan for civil servants and reviews of topics ranging from business essays to firearms for sale. Additionally, a list of PEO companies in Dallas has launched a successful new employee orientation program.