Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2010
Governance, commitments, and engagement
4.4 Mechanisms for shareholders and employees to provide recommendations to the Board of Directors
The shareholders’ rights are published in the Annual Report 2010, pages 199–201. Adecco S.A.’s Investor Relations Department publishes its contact details and relevant publications, such as quarterly, half-year and full-year results. There is also an opportunity to request information and make contact on the Investor Relations section of our website (www.adecco.com). These facilities allow all shareholders to approach Adecco S.A. The Group Communications Department stands as contact point for all other stakeholders (see also 4.16, page 64).
Adecco Group Compliance & Ethics reporting (ACE):
All employees and associates, investors or other interested parties can report any allegations of fraud or violations of the law, Company policy, procedure or ethical standards of conduct by the Adecco Group or any of its employees or agents directly to the Group Compliance Office either by calling or writing to the address provided in the Compliance & Ethics Reporting page on our website (www.adecco.com). Calls and written correspondence made to the Company or to its Board of Directors via the respective hotline numbers or address will be received 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by a third-party service provider on the Adecco Group’s behalf. In accordance with instructions issued by the Corporate Governance Committee and the Audit Committee of Adecco Group’s Board of Directors, related to accounting, internal controls, auditing matters, corporate governance, safety, health or environmental issues, or any other significant legal or ethical issues relating to the Adecco Group, will be dealt with by the Group Compliance Office. This, unless they are of trivial nature or otherwise not related to the aforementioned topics. Where deemed, appropriate, such reports will be forwarded directly to the intended member of the Board of Directors.
4.7 Process for determining the expertise required of Board members
The Nomination and Compensation Committee assists the Board of Directors in establishing principles for the selection of candidates for election or re-election to the Board of Directors, including candidates for committees of the Board of Directors, and giving recommendations on compensation of the members of the Board of Directors.
4.9 Procedures of the Board of Directors for overseeing management of sustainable performance
The Corporate Governance Committee (CGC): The CGC’s primary responsibility is to assist the Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities as they relate to Corporate Governance principles. The CGC is charged with developing and recommending appropriate Corporate Governance principles and independence rules to the Company, including principles and measures on Corporate Responsibility as well as reviewing and reassessing such principles and rules to ensure that they remain relevant and in line with legal and stock exchange requirements. Recommendations as to best practice are also reviewed to ensure compliance.
4.11 Explanation of whether and how the precautionary approach or principle is addressed
The risk management process at the Adecco Group has strategic and organisational dimensions. Besides monitoring, analysing and mitigating risks, the aim is also to identify opportunities. This makes it obvious that the precautionary approach (which indicates that lack of scientific certainty is no reason to postpone action to handle potential risks) is inherent to Adecco Group’s risk and opportunities management.
4.12 Externally developed, voluntary charters and sets of principles which the organisation endorses
While upholding the human rights is primarily the responsibility of governments, Adecco promotes and supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as its preamble emphasises “that every individual and every organ of society, (...) shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures (...) to secure their universal and effective recognition”.
Consequently, in November 2003, the Adecco Group became the first global HR company to participate in the United Nations Global Compact.
In November 2008, UNI Global Union and Ciett Corporate Members, including the Adecco Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoA) to consolidate the industry global social dialogue to achieve fair conditions for the temporary agency work industry.
These two public endorsements are due to the fact that Adecco Group acknowledges adherence to:
- ILO Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy
- OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
- ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at work
- UN Charter of Human Rights
4.13 Principal memberships in industry and business associations
Principal memberships and affiliations on corporate level:
- Ciett and Eurociett The Adecco Group is a member of Ciett, Eurociett and Ciett&LA, respectively the International, European and Latin America Confederations of Private Employment Agencies. Ciett is the authoritative voice representing the common interests of the agency work industry and consists of 40 national federations from EU and EFTA and seven of the largest staffing companies worldwide: www.ciett.org
- ‘Business & Disability’ The Adecco Group is a founding member of Business & Disability (founded in December 2004), a network of European companies striving to improve access for disabled people to the labour market, the Internet and society at large: www.businessanddisability.org (cf. pages 18, 41).
- ENAR European Network Against Racism, the European platform NGO federation of national NGOs against ethnic and religious discrimination, representative for the European Institutions: http://www.enar-eu.org/.
- Carbon Disclosure Project CDP As respondent company to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), Adecco discloses its greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies in response to CDP’s information requests. This data is collected by CDP annually on behalf of institutional investors, purchasing organisations and government bodies. More info https://www.cdproject.net/en-US/Pages/HomePage.aspx.
- WEF Industry Partner The Adecco Group is amongst the select member companies of the World Economic Forum that are actively involved in the Forum’s mission at the industry level.
- economiesuisse The Adecco Group is member of the Swiss Business Federation, the largest umbrella organisation representing the Swiss economy. The mission is to create an optimal economic environment for Swiss business.
Principal memberships by country level:
Usually, Adecco Group’s subsidiaries are members of the local chambers of commerce as well as of our industrial associations such as the national confederations of private employment agencies, etc. Additional, important memberships are listed below:
| Adecco Australia |
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| Adecco Colombia |
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| Adecco Denmark |
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| Adecco Group France |
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| Adecco Germany |
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| DIS AG Germany |
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| TUJA Germany |
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| Adecco Italy |
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| Adecco Netherlands |
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| Ajilon Netherlands |
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| Adecco Norway |
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| Adecco Poland |
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| Adecco Spain & Adecco Foundation |
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| Adecco Switzerland |
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| Office Angels UK |
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| Adecco USA |
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