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G4S RECOGNISES ITS ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO EMPLOYEES, CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, INVESTORS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE GROUP OPERATES IN A WIDE RANGE OF COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, WHERE SITUATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING. WE ARE THEREFORE CONTINUALLY DEVELOPING OUR CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP POLICIES, PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES.
Corporate citizenship code
G4S has introduced a corporate citizenship code, which seeks to establish best practice guidelines for all the various businesses within the organisation, covering a number of important ethical areas including human rights, health and safety, employee relations and equal opportunities & diversity.
The code, reviewed every year, has been distributed to all business units within the organisation with the objective of setting a standard to which all business units should adhere. Compliance with the code is monitored regularly, although there is some allowance made for geographical and cultural differences, as a result of local regulations and business practices.
The foundation of our corporate citizenship code lies with our employees. We are well aware that the organisation’s future success is being driven by the performance of our employees. Opportunities for development within the organisation are based only on personal performance, ability and aptitude. In addition, when selecting, recruiting and developing our employees, we aim to ensure that all employees receive the same treatment, regardless of gender, ethnicity, colour, age, culture, marital status, religion, sexual orientation or disability. We recognise that diversity and cultural differences are becoming an important strength in our organisation.
Respect for human rights is another cornerstone of our corporate citizenship code. G4S is committed to and supportive of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation’s Core Labour Standards. We treat our employees in accordance with recognised international human rights conventions and regulations and aim to ensure that our employees’ activities do not compromise these conventions.
Employee trust fund
The group has established an employee trust fund which offers monetary support, at the discretion of the fund’s trustees, to those employees and former employees in need of urgent financial assistance. During 2006, the fund was utilised throughout our organisation in countries as diverse as Indonesia, the UK, Canada and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Investing in the community
G4S is currently implementing an extensive “Investing in the Community” programme, which aims to support a range of health, welfare and community initiatives around the world, and particularly in New Market regions. The foundations of this programme are built on our culture of giving back to the communities in which we operate and encouraging our employees to do the same, examples of which are: |
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In many African countries, G4S is working to provide better futures for our employees, their families and their local communities, including: |
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Providing financial support for schools in countries like Mozambique and Uganda |
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Supporting and assisting a community programme in Kenya which aims to provide regular meals for around 800 children from deprived areas |
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Supplying financial and building maintenance support to a children’s home in Zambia which specialises in supporting orphans who have lost their parents to AIDS |
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“Above and Beyond” Award, which was awarded to The Wackenhut Corporation by an agency of the Department of Defence for extraordinary support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve |
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The G4S Sponsorship Matching programme, which matches funds raised directly by employees for local community projects. This programme effectively doubles the financial contribution towards local community initiatives |
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Howard League for Penal Reform “Community Programme Award” and National Mentoring and Befriending Foundation Approved Provider Standard, were won by G4S Justice Services for its work in Wales, supporting short sentence prisoners and engaging with their communities. |
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In conjunction with our on-going encouragement to individuals and business units to become involved with community projects on an ad hoc basis, our “Investing in the Community” programme is key to our corporate strategy – we feel that our presence helps to raise standards. In addition, we believe that this programme will continue to help to create sustainable wealth for local communities around the world.
The environment
The main business of the group is involved in the provision of security solutions personnel to our customers and therefore the organisation does not have a significant direct impact on the environment. However, there are a number of areas in which the group focuses on further reducing its environmental impact.
Energy usage – We aim to maximise energy conservation through the adoption of best practices. Where practicable, computerised heating, lighting and ventilation controls are installed in buildings.
Recycling & waste management – We are committed to recycling of materials where possible and where the means to recycle materials exist. This includes the recycling of cash bags, uniforms, toner cartridges, paper and paper-based products.
The group has an international fleet of cash carrying vehicles which are equipped with a variety of unique security measures, making them difficult to reuse in other areas once their life cycle has been completed. However, G4S Cash Services (UK) donates expired vehicles to an organisation which make use of any spare parts and then recycles the remaining shell of the vehicle for future industrial use.
Use of environmentally friendly products – The group complies with the relevant standards on vehicle emissions and encourages business units to use diesel or unleaded petrol to fuel vehicles. Fuel conservation is achieved through enhanced vehicle design and regular maintenance to ensure appropriate levels of health and safety and to minimise any impact on the environment through inefficient fuel management and emissions.
Paper products – Where possible, the group makes use of environmentally friendly products and services. At the group level, any major printing projects such as the annual report and accounts, interim reports and customer magazines are printed on paper which is produced in accordance with ISO 1400 environmental certification and is elementary chlorine free. Business units throughout the organisation are encouraged to use environmentally friendly products where possible. |
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