Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2012/2013

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 2012, pages 155–156. 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). This allows for all shareholders to approach Adecco S.A. whenever necessary. The Group Communications Department is the main point of contact for all other stakeholders (see also 4.16, page 69).

Adecco Group Compliance & Ethics (ACE) reporting
The Adecco Compliance & Ethics (ACE) Reporting Tools are designed to assist employees, associates and other stakeholders in reporting actual or potential violations of the law or Adecco Group policies, procedures or of the Code of Conduct. Any stakeholder may report to the Board of Directors allegations of fraud and violations of the law, the Group policies, the procedures or ethical standards of conduct by the Adecco Group or any of its employees or agents.

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 the 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 & Compensation Committee (“NCC”) 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”) has the primary responsibility 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. Further instruments see Annual Report 2012, page 150, point 3.6.

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. Further information, see Annual Report 2012, page 108, Note 18.

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
  • ILO Global Business & Disability Network The Adecco Group is a founding member of the orginial Business & Disability network (founded in December 2004) by European companies to improve access for disabled people to the labour market. In 2012, the Network was formally established, and it continues to sharing business cases and experiences on disability management among the Network members: www.businessanddisability.org (see page 39 of this reports).
  • ENAR European Network Against Racism, the European platform NGO federation of national NGOs against ethnic and religious discrimination, a representative for the European Institutions: http://www.enar-eu.org/.
  • Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) As a responding company to the Carbon Disclosure Project, Adecco discloses its greenhouse gas emissions and climate change strategies on a yearly basis via the CDP’s investor and supplier module. This data is collected on behalf of institutional investors, purchasing organisations and government bodies. More info: www.cdproject.net.
  • World Economic Forum Strategic Partner The Strategic Partners community comprises a select group of 100 leading global companies selected for their alignment with the Forum’s commitment to improving the state of the world.
  • economiesuisse The Adecco Group is member of the Swiss Business Federation, the largest umbrella organisation representing the Swiss economy. Its mission is to create an optimal economic environment for Swiss business.

Principal memberships at country level:

The Adecco country organisations are generally members of the local chambers of commerce as well as of our industry associations such as the national confederations of private employment agencies, etc. Further significant memberships are listed below:

Adecco Group France
  • Association Française des Managers de la Diversité (AFMD) French Diversity Managers Association to promote diversity management to line managers, 100 members (Adecco Group France’s CSR Director holds the presidency).
  • IMS Entreprendre A club of over 200 of France’s top companies committed to improving their impact on society (Adecco Group France is represented on the Board of Directors).
  • Observatoire de la Responsabilité Sociétale des Entreprises (ORSE) A French network designed to study and promote socially responsible investment (SRI), corporate social responsibility and issues related to sustainable development.
  • The French Réseau Adecco Insertion are members of the Conseil National des Entreprises d’Insertion, a federation of enterprises working on labour integration for low-skilled and unemployed people.
  • Club Etre A national network of enterprises for disabled people.
  • Osons! Entreprises et Handicap A corporate club on disability and inclusion in the workforce.
  • Club Handicap & Compétences A corporate initiative on disability and inclusion initiatied by Adecco France’s Espace Emploi Handicap & Compétences.
  • Forum français des amis du Global Compact The national organisation of the Global Compact in France.
  • FACE (Fondation Agir Contre les Exclusions) A network of enterprises, institutional actors and pressure groups, aiming to prevent and fight exclusion.
  • Charte de la Diversité (Diversity Charter) A charter signed by enterprises showing their commitment to fight discrimination at work and the goal to reflect the diversity of the French population in the labour market.
  • Charte de la Parentalité A charter to promote parenthood at work.
  • Pas@Pas A web-based portal to promote diversity in the supply chain by promoting companies with a focus on Employment and Inclusion.
  • Charte de l’apprentissage A charter signed by enterprises which aim to promote professional integration of young people into the labour market by using a specific work contract between a company and a student. The students spend half the time working for the company and the other half learning at school.
  • Le Réseau (Réseau National des Entreprises pour l’Egalité des Chances dans l’Education Nationale), a professional network to promote equality in education.

Adecco Germany
  • Zukunftsvertrag Zeitarbeit (Future contract for temporary employment) is an initiative by the leading staffing companies in Germany. Its goal is to develop and implement innovative employment concepts.
  • BSW (Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft): the German Solarbusiness Association (BSW-Solar) represents the interests of 650 companies in the solar industry. The organisation acts as a consultant and intermediary between politics, business and consumers.
  • Hanse-Aerospace e.V., Hamburg, is Germany’s largest association of small and medium-sized aerospace companies. The members represent a wide spectrum, ranging from development companies, manufacturers and maintenance companies, to aerospace-oriented service companies. Training schools, universities and universities of applied sciences complete the membership. A total of 14,000 staff – about 15% of all personnel employed in the German aviation and space industries – work for Hanse-Aerospace members.

DIS AG Germany
  • Supporting Partner of brotZeit e.V., an association with a focus on children from difficult socio-economic backgrounds.
  • Zukunftsvertrag Zeitarbeit (see above under Adecco Germany).

TUJA Germany
  • Supporting partner of roterkeil.net, an association fighting sexual abuse of children.
  • Hanse-Aerospace e.V., Hamburg (see above under Adecco Germany).

Adecco Italy
  • Global Compact Italian Network The local network of the UN Global Compact.
  • HR Community Academy A network of HR managers and executives.
  • ADAPT A non-profit organisation to promote studies and research in the field of labour law and industrial relations from an international and comparative perspective.

Adecco Netherlands
  • Syntens A platform for growing entrepreneurs.
  • JINC A non-profit organisation which helps young people get in contact with businesses.
  • Avance One of the largest further education colleges in the Netherlands.
  • MVO Nederland A knowledge and network organisation which encourages companies to be socially responsible.
  • STOOF helps flextime workers to develop through education. Via STOOF, Adecco
    is also involved in the Lezen en Schrijven project of the Stichting Lezen & Schrijven foundation, which is campaigning to reduce illiteracy in the Netherlands.

Ajilon Netherlands
  • The Nederlandse Biotechnologische Vereniging, an association for professionals who work in the Life Sciences industry.
  • SDO Stichting Deeltijd Opleidingen
  • And many further education organisations.

Adecco Norway
  • Global Compact Nordic Network The local network of the UN Global Compact.

Adecco Poland
  • Polish HR Forum Initiative of leading companies from the employment agencies sector, operating to promote the highest ethical standards, develop the employment agencies sector in Poland, and influence trade unions, authorities and government administrative bodies.

Adecco Spain & Adecco Foundation
  • Club de Excelencia en Sostenibilidad A business association formed by a group of major companies with the commitment to sustainable growth within the economic, social and environmental dimension.
  • UN Global Compact Spain The local network of the UN Global Compact Network where Adecco Spain is co-founder.
  • Fundación Másfamilia A foundation with a focus on the development of better protection and an enhanced quality of life for families.
  • AEF The Spanish Association of Foundations is a private association of public interest, which brings together foundations from all geographical areas and disciplines with the goal of enhancing the influence of Foundations in Spain.
  • CEOE The Spanish Confederation of Employers’ Organisations A Spanish institution that represents the Spanish business community. It includes state-owned and private companies in all sectors. It’s a member of BusinessEurope.
  • Seres Foundation A non-profit organisation which fosters and promotes strategic business actions that contribute to the overall improvement of social issues with a focus on disadvantaged groups.
  • Ability Club A network which has the goal to enhance and share best practice which have been identified through the Telefónica Ability Awards.

Adecco Switzerland
  • Avenir Suisse An independent think-tank for economic and social issues.
  • Pro duale Berufsbildung Schweiz An independent association promoting the dual education system in Switzerland.

Office Angels UK
  • Employers’ Forum on Disability An employers’ organisation focused on the issue of disability in the workplace.
  • Race for Opportunity Committed to improving employment opportunities for ethnic minorties across the UK. It is the only race diversity campaign that has access to and influence over the leaders of the UK’s best-known organisations.
  • Opportunity Now An organisation for employers who are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for women. Opportunity Now empowers employers to accelerate change for women in the workplace because it makes good business sense.
  • Employers’ Forum on Belief An independent employers’ network developed by employers themselves to share good practice on religion, belief and non-belief in order to make the most of their diverse workforce.
  • Employers’ Forum on Age An independent network of companies who recognise the need to attract and retain valuable employees whatever their age.
  • Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme, Britain’s good practice forum in which employers can work with Stonewall, and each other on sexual orientation issues.

Adecco USA
  • National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) This organisation provides a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses.
  • Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) This WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States.
  • National Business Disability Council (NBDC) The NBDC is the leading resource for employers seeking to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace and companies seeking to reach them in the consumer marketplace.
  • Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) Its mission is to provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.
  • Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) A foundation that provides programmes and services to severely injured service members during the time between active duty and transition to civilian life.
  • ‘Welcome Back Warriors’ A programme helping soldiers returning from the battle field to integrate into the labour market through job and support services fairs.
  • National Urban League A non-partisan civil rights organisation that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States.
  • Abilities, Inc. at the Viscardi Center This organisation prepares adolescents and adults with all types of disabilities (cognitive, physical, learning, developmental) and levels of experience for entry or re-entry into the workforce by assisting them in securing pre-employment services as well as employment.
  • Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) This national non-profit organisation made up of parents, families, friends, and straight allies uniting with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education and advocacy.
  • World Diversity Leadership Summit (WDLS) The yearly event explores local, state, and national best practices on how to foster diversity, spur innovation, and experience growth in the workplace.