The Sustainability Learning Forum

Self-assessment Regarding Respect for Human Rights

Christian Coutin, SEB Groupe
Marianne Tisserand, SEB Groupe
SEB Groupe

As world economies become globalized, the new challenge is to ensure that multinational corporations can be held accountable not only for the impact of their activities on human beings but also for their respect of Human Rights. To date, there is no supranational legal institution with the appropriate means to enforce human rights in a mandatory way. Companies that agree to assume responsibility do so voluntarily. But for an international firm, ensuring that Human Rights are respected can be quite difficult. The standards developed to protect people’s rights were originally drafted for states, so additional practical steps are required to apply those standards to companies and to develop concrete ways to implement and track them within a corporate environment. more[...] login_required

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Imagine What We Can Do Together: Randstad – VSO Partnership

Eveline Kramers, Randstad

“We strongly believe that companies have no reason to exist if they don’t add value to society,” says Ben Noteboom, CEO of Randstad Holding nv. “Our core activity, putting people to work, means improving people’s lives. But we want to do something extra. Working with development organization VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) is a perfect match because we can help them select the right people, something we do every day. And: All of our employees can play a role in this partnership.” Randstad supports VSO financially, through in-kind donations and by providing expertise in recruitment & selection. Most importantly we stimulate our employees, who come from varied backgrounds -IT, HR, finance, etc.- to volunteer or raise awareness or funds for VSO. So far over 75 Randstad employees have volunteered with VSO in developing countries reaching thousands of beneficiaries. more[...] login_required

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Empowering Women For More Sustainable Communities

Editorial Team

As a global organization with a presence in 82 countries and territories, Manpower Inc.’s employees, associates, clients, and candidates are naturally diverse. Diversity brings a broader range of perspectives and capabilities to our organization, as we continue to be innovative by remaining open to the ideas of all. Manpower’s core mission is to provide the best possible talent for our clients, and that means tapping into all populations and including those that have traditionally been underrepresented. Diversity is essential to maintaining our role as an expert in the changing world of work. more[...] login_required

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Empowering Women For More Sustainable Communities

Jeffrey A. Joerres, ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup

As a global organization with a presence in 82 countries and territories, Manpower Inc.’s employees, associates, clients, and candidates are naturally diverse. Diversity brings a broader range of perspectives and capabilities to our organization, as we continue to be innovative by remaining open to the ideas of all. Manpower’s core mission is to provide the best possible talent for our clients, and that means tapping into all populations and including those that have traditionally been underrepresented. Diversity is essential to maintaining our role as an expert in the changing world of work. more[...]

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How Do You Avoid Gender Discrimination?

Editorial Team

Gender discrimination in the workplace is an issue that we need to stand against. In today’s day and age, where equal contributions from both sexes in the corporate world are valued, gender discrimination simply should not be tolerated or encouraged. Within Green Delta Insurance Company, a firm believer of equal rights and opportunities, we have uniform policies for both male and female employees. more[...] login_required

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How Do You Avoid Gender Discrimination?

Nusrat Fathima, Green Delta Insurance

Gender discrimination in the workplace is an issue that we need to stand against. In today’s day and age, where equal contributions from both sexes in the corporate world are valued, gender discrimination simply should not be tolerated or encouraged. Within Green Delta Insurance Company, a firm believer of equal rights and opportunities, we have uniform policies for both male and female employees. more[...]

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Bringing the Work to the People

Why would Bangladeshis, of all people, make better entrepreneurs? Samantha Morshed of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the British CEO of nonprofit enterprise Hathay Bunano, has the best answer to her own question. Because the number of CEOs in Bangladesh is still rather small on the whole, Hathay Bunano has committed to creating sustainable rural employment. more[...] login_required

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Bringing the Work to the People

Gerd Pfitzenmeier

Why would Bangladeshis, of all people, make better entrepreneurs? Samantha Morshed of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the British CEO of nonprofit enterprise Hathay Bunano, has the best answer to her own question. Because the number of CEOs in Bangladesh is still rather small on the whole, Hathay Bunano has committed to creating sustainable rural employment. more[...]

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Good Agricultural Social Practice for Fruit and Vegetable Farming

Emma Arvidsson, Coop

Corporate social responsibility has become an emerging issue in global food supply chains. Partners involved in the food sector are challenged to find innovative and meaningful approaches to ensure that their agricultural products are produced in line with internationally agreed labor requirements such as the UN Global Compact Principles. more[...] login_required

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Working Together on Safety

Editorial Team

Autostrade per l’Italia has always been committed to an effective policy of accident prevention through the empowerment of workers and companies. In addition to the strict observance of rules regarding safety at work provided for by the legislative decree no. 81, Consolidated Health and Safety at Work, on April 9, 2008, the company carries out training of workers and also finances enhanced training programs. In addition to the requirements of the law, it identifies standards of self-regulation and, above all, establishes an ongoing dialogue with governments, regulatory institutions, and associations within the industry. more[...] login_required

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Coop Naturaline – Fashion & Fairness

Emma Arvidsson, Coop
Simona Matt, Coop
Coop

In close partnership with Remei AG, Coop ensures organic cotton production, ecological processing and fair working conditions along the entire textile supply chain. This is guaranteed by strict independent controls. more[...] login_required

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Coop Naturaline – Fashion & Fairness

Emma Arvidsson, Coop
Simona Matt, Coop
Coop

Coop launched its Naturaline brand in 1993. Today, the company is one of the world’s largest retailers of Fairtrade organic cotton. Coop has worked with REMEI AG since 1994. Together, they have developed a set of social and ecological requirements for fashionwear. more[...]

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Diversity and Inclusiveness at Ernst & Young

Sabine Moron, Ernst & Young Germany
Karin Sahr, Ernst & Young Germany
Ernst & Young Germany

The 6th principle of the UN Global Compact addresses the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. At Ernst & Young, we not only believe in that goal from a moral perspective: We are convinced that Diversity and Inclusiveness (D&I) are actually a business must. That is why we do more than just look for ways to prevent or eliminate discrimination; we actively promote diversity as a value crucial to our company. more[...] login_required

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Diversity and Inclusiveness at Ernst & Young

Sabine Moron, Ernst & Young Germany
Karin Sahr, Ernst & Young Germany
Ernst & Young Germany

The 6th principle of the UN Global Compact addresses the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. At Ernst & Young, we not only believe in that goal from a moral perspective: We are convinced that Diversity and Inclusiveness (D&I) are actually a business must. That is why we do more than just look for ways to prevent or eliminate discrimination; we actively promote diversity as a value crucial to our company. more[...]

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Improving the Working Environment

Gerhard Teschl, Danfoss
Danfoss

In August 2006, Danfoss acquired the factory of Chinese company Qinbao, a manufacturer of brazed plate heat exchangers that is located in Hangzhou, approximately 150 km southwest of Shanghai. more[...] login_required

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